A Knight's Lady

The Love Dare

2009-01-11T07:49:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that I have not seen the movie Fireproof. But I did pre-order it. :o) So once it comes out on dvd, I will own a copy. :o)

For those of you that have not heard about it... click on Fireproof and see what it's about. Soaring Amongst The Clouds and JC went to see it in the theaters. They felt it had a great message. I look forward to seeing it.

Well for Christmas I bought my Knight the book mentioned in the movie. The book is called Love Dare. The book is a 40-day challenge for husbands and wives to understand and practice unconditional love. Click on the title to read more about it. I can't wait for us to read the book together. I also bought him a t-shirt that says, i love my wife. I would of bought myself the one that said, i love my husband, but they didn't have my size. :o( I'm going to order it online. ;o)

My dear sister in Christ, Lady Blue, shared a site she came across. I thought I'd share it too. Click on Your Daily "Love Dare", to start receiving daily love dare tips. Since I haven't read the book yet, I don't know if they are the same as the ones in the book. I find that I look forward to receiving the tips daily. Makes me stop and think, what else I can do to help our blessed marriage even more of a blessing. :o)

In reading through the daily tips, I've realized that some of it doesn't only apply to married couples. It can be applied to ANY relationship. Anything that helps us to be a better person and work on relationships has got to be good. :o)

I'm looking forward to taking the Love Dare. Now... I dare you...

Enjoy Unconditional Love In Your Marriage

2008-12-09T18:08:00.000-08:00

Let me start off by saying, no marriage is perfect. That's because no one is perfect. But it's something we should all strive for. I fall and mess up all the time. One thing I don't do is give up. I keep persevering.

I know this sounds selfish, but I want (that's the selfish sounding part) to have the kind of marriage God speaks of in Scripture. It's what He intends for us. We're (I'm) the one that messes it up. We (I) keep letting "flesh" get in the way.

I have to admit, that in the 26 years that my Knight and I have been married, I have never "not loved" him. My love for him has been unconditional. I KNOW, that his love for me has been unconditional too. Believe me... I REALLY know!

This was one of my devotions and I felt led to share it. It really spoke to me and I hope and pray that it blesses you too.

Lady G~

You love your spouse ... as long as he or she fulfills your expectations. Your spouse loves you ... unless you do something wrong. Does this sound like your marriage?

You and your spouse can love each other like God does - unconditionally - with His help. Here's how:

Choose to love.
Recognize that love is a choice, and decide to act in love no matter what your current feelings or circumstances. Trust that the Holy Spirit will give you the power you need to do so. Know that loving choices can bring about substantial, positive changes in your heart and marriage.

Look for God in the ordinary as well as the extraordinary.
Understand that God is present with you and your spouse at all times and in all situations - not just in exciting "mountain top" experiences. Be willing to trust God and choose to love your spouse in the "valley" of your daily grind as well.

Imagine the possibilities.
Read stories of God's work in the Bible, and listen to testimonies of how He is working in people's lives today. Recall the ways He has answered your past prayers. Then, as you consider God's awesome power to transform lives, imagine how He could change your marriage. Understand that each person and each marriage is a work in progress. Ask Him to give you a vision of hope for your marriage so you can see it from His perspective.

Embrace your spiritual identity.
Know that you are a beloved child of God. Accept the gift of His deep, unconditional love for you. Let your own experience of God's love help you more fully understand how to love your spouse unconditionally. Understand that God has chosen to love you no matter what, and strive to choose to love your spouse no matter what.

Look for true fulfillment only from God.
Realize that no human being - not your spouse, or anyone else - is able to fulfill all of your expectations. Expect your spouse to fail to measure up because every person in our fallen world is imperfect. But also know that God has the power to fulfill your greatest hopes and dreams. Look to Him alone to fulfill you.

Be patient.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you stay in step with God so you're not running ahead of His perfect pace for your life. Ask Him to give you His perspective on challenging people (including your spouse) and difficult situations so you can handle them with patience. Remember that God is patient with you, and take the time to thank Him for that.

Fight negativity with kindness.
Avoid the dangerous habits of criticizing and condemning your spouse. Never treat him or her with contempt. Instead, be proactive about finding as many ways as you can to be kind to your spouse. Treat your spouse with courtesy, honor, and respect. Then watch how your kindness changes the dynamic of your relationship.

Choose contentment.
Don't compare your marriage to that of someone else. Understand that God has made you and spouse unique individuals, and that He has unique purposes for your marriage. Make a regular habit of counting your blessings and thanking God for what you do have so you can break free of envy.

Focus on who you are, not what you do.
Realize that God cares about who you are as a person much more than your accomplishments or circumstances. Rather than trying to impress God or other people, choose to rest in God's unconditional love for you.

Choose humility over pride.
Don't fight with your spouse just to prove that you're right. Realize that it's not worth it to win an argument just for the sake of winning, because by doing so you lose out on your relationship. Strive to look at a problem or conflict from your spouse's perspective.

Seek to serve instead of being served.
Rather than asking, "What can my spouse do for me?" ask, "What can I do for my spouse?". Ask God to give you a servant's heart so you can work for the good of your spouse before your own good. Express your love for your spouse regularly by looking for and grabbing opportunities to help him or her. Know that God will reward you for your efforts if you think of others first.

Manage your anger well.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you manage your anger effectively, so that you get angry about only the right things and are able to control your anger to channel it toward constructive solutions. Seek to understand your thoughts and feelings before lashing out. Pray for God to give you His perspective on whatever is making you angry in your marriage.

Don't keep score.
Avoid keeping a record of wrongs to use against your spouse. Instead, be willing to forgive your spouse every time he or she does or says something hurtful. Remember that God will give you the power you need to forgive, and that He expects you to forgive others as He has forgiven you. Don't hold grudges. Instead,strive to give blessings whenever you have an opportunity.

Be honest.
Don't pretend that you're doing better than you actually are in your marriage. Be honest with God and your spouse about the recent losses and conflicts that have taken a toll on your marriage. Get support from friends, pastors, counselors and others as you pursue healing.

Remember that God's love is for always, and never fails.
Remind yourself that God will never stop loving you, and that you can rely on Him even when everyone else has failed you.

Accept the messy life.
Understand that your marriage will never be perfect in this fallen world. Choose to live in the messiness of imperfection and failure by accepting yourself and your spouse as you are and relying on God for grace.

Change yourself, not your spouse.
Realize that you can only take responsibility for your own attitudes and actions. Stop wasting time and energy trying to change your spouse, and focus on yourself instead. Know that by changing yourself, you'll change the dynamic of your relationship.

Live in the present.
Let go of the past and leave the future up to God. Anchor yourself in the present, aware that God is with you and giving you faith, hope, and love.

Adapted from, I Love You Unconditionally ... On One Condition, copyright 2004 by Joey O'Connor.

A Night Out... Just The Two Of Us.

2008-11-19T04:48:00.000-08:00

My Knight and I decided to go on a date. It was a last minute date. Sometimes those are the best. He had a Little League Board meeting. So we decided to go after the meeting. The meeting ran longer than anticipated. But we still wanted to go out.

Would you believe that after 26 years, we still hold hands. Not just when we walk, but even in the car. Holding his hand makes me feel wanted, protected and loved. I'm sharing this cause while we drove to the restaurant, we held hands. Yes, we still do that, even when driving. Please don't turn us in. :o)

During dinner we talked a little and a lot about everything. Let me share how in tune we are with each other. The other day we went to the stores together. He saw some digital picture frames and mentioned, "That's what I need for my office." I told him, I was planning on getting him one, but wasn't sure which one to get. Well, tonight he mentioned what he was thinking about doing with the Christmas bonus. I smiled and told him, "Funny cause that's exactly what I was thinking."

Mind you this doesn't mean that we always see eye to eye on matters. I respect his views and he respects mine. Because we love each other, we put the other first. It goes without saying that God comes first though. :o) But you know what I mean. Since we put each other first, it brings balance to our relationship.

I LOVE my Knight. He is not perfect, neither am I (we all know only Jesus was perfect), but he's perfect for me. He makes me whole. I'm so thankful that God saw fit to bring us together. I'm so blessed!

You all know I'm a lover of words and I love quotes. A friend recently shared a quote and I thought it's perfect for this entry...

"Immature love says: 'I love you because I need you.' Mature love says 'I need you because I love you.'"
~Erich Fromm

my cup runneth over...

In Sickness Or In Health

2008-11-12T05:03:00.000-08:00

Twenty six years ago, my Knight and I took a vow. We were young (19 & 18). Did we really understand the vows we were making? We committed to love one another in sickness or in health. Little did we know what the future really held for us.

We have been really blessed. If I wasn't a Christian, I would say we've lived a charmed life. But I am a Christian and I know that luck has nothing to do with anything. God has everything to do with it. For that I'm thankful.

My Knight and I have always been healthy and active. We love and enjoy sports. Not just watching, but actively participating too. When we first got married, we played raquetball, tennis, worked out with weights. Through the years we've continued playing different sports. If one of us wasn't playing a sport, we would be on the sidelines cheering on. He's played basketball, football, softball and volleyball. I've played softball and volleyball. I love it when we are in the same team. We have always been very supportive of each other. He has never criticized me or belittled me. He's always been an encourager. Needless to say, I've always felt my Knight can do no wrong.

Back in 1998, I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (lupus or SLE). I started having symptoms while I was pregnant in 1993. But it was a while before I was diagnosed. Mainly cause I was having so many different symtoms, it was hard to pinpoint what was the culprit. Once I was diagnosed, it was hard to accept, so I went through a denial stage. But my Knight was unbelievably supportive. He read everything he could, so we could understand what it was all about. He ROCKS!

In the fall of 2003, I was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation II and Hydrocephalus. My brain had herniated 12mm down into my spinal canal. I had a shunt installed to help with the hydrocephalus. Once I was stable enough from the shunt surgery (6 months later), I had the decompression surgery. There is no cure for chiari, but the surgery helps alleviate the symptoms. Recovery from the surgeries was long. My Knight and my family were awesome. But I have to honestly say, I have no recollection of what happened during my recovery. I know that I couldn't of done it without the love and support of my beloved family.

Now I'm not saying cause I want people to feel sorry for me. I'm doing great. My memory isn't good, but I'm feeling great. :o) I'm sharing because I want everyone to know what an AWESOME husband (and family of course- but this blog is about my Knight) God has blessed me with. For my surgeries, there was talk about shaving my head. Sinful that I am, I was concerned of how I would look. My Knight told me, he loves me with or without hair. Not many would say that and mean it. I know he meant it. He took care of cleaning my incisions. He washed my hair, well... what was left of it. LOL! He slept with me on the couch, cause I couldn't sleep in our bed. He was there for me EVERY step of the way. Why? Because he was committed to me. Because he loves me. Because he's a man of his word. Because he loves God and made a covenant with Him and me.

Our children have grown up seeing his example. Our Fair Maiden's future husbands have big shoes to fill. Not that they have to be like my Knight, but he surely has raised the expectations. My prayer is that our Fair Maidens be more blessed than I have been (if that's possible) and that our Squires be a blessing to their spouse. May my Squires be just as blessed too.

Twenty six years ago we made a commitment to one another. We were kids then. We've grown up together. We have honored those commitments and will continue to keep our covenant. God has truly blessed us. I keep thinking, this is the best , it can't get any better than this... but it has and it will continue to get better. My cup runneth over...

Loving Actions

2008-07-31T06:50:00.000-07:00

Increasing Your Intimacy 100 Percent...

Genuine love doesn't necessarily spring from feelings. Its basis is primarily a concern for the welfare of another. Although the feelings of affection will follow, genuine love is initially an action directed toward fulfilling another person's needs.

-From "It Takes Two to Tango" by Gary and Norma Smalley

My thoughts:

Feelings come and go. You have to choose daily to love, accept, forgive and stay committed.

I know I've said it a million, gazillion times, love is a verb... it's an action. You can say I love you, but are you showing it with your actions?

When God created Adam, he saw that it was not good for man to be alone. So he created Eve. We are to be as one. This doesn't mean we lose our individuality as the "world" sees it. This means we grow close to our spouse and become one. We balance each other. We support one another. We are there for one another in good and bad times.

Simply Romantic... Tips

2008-07-24T16:42:00.001-07:00

Romance is the process of keeping your courtship alive long after the wedding day.

I Blink...

2008-06-19T07:07:00.000-07:00

... and then, we are celebrating our 26th wedding anniversary. I love my Knight more today than I ever dreamed possible. To think that on our wedding day, I thought I couldn't possibly love him any more than what I did on that day. But I do...

... he is my Knight in shinning armor. The Prince I dreamed of marrying. The kind man every parent dreams their daughter will marry. He's my wish come true. My answered prayer.

My Dearest Knight,

I remember as a little girl, thinking and wondering what kind of man I was going to marry. I made a mental list of I wanted him to be and how he would look.

At first my list went something like this...
* Blue eyes
* Someone like my dad
* Likes to play football
* Taller than me
* Stronger and faster than me ( I don't want a sissy boy)
* A policeman or a soldier
* Someone who wants a motorcycle

As I got older my list changed (somewhat) and it went something like this...
* Someone like my dad
* Someone who will love me and wants me for being me
* Someone who wants lots of children
* Someone of honorable character (faithful, honest, courageous, responsible, virtuous, etc...)
* A Knight among men
* An athlete
* Someone with blue eyes
* Someone with morals and values

Looking back, you are everything I ever dreamed of and more. Marrying you at the tender age of 18 was the best decision I have ever made. You've encouraged and uplifted me every step of the way. You have helped me to grow and blossom. I am the woman I am today, because of you. The past 26 years have been the best years of my life. Every step of the way I've thought, "It can't get any better than this." But is has. I look forward to the years ahead. I love you so much that at times I can't even find the words to express myself. The thought of you leaves me speechless. I'm so blessed you chose me to be your wife. Te amo...

forever yours...
Your Lady~

Judge A Man By The Woman

2008-06-17T10:05:00.000-07:00

Judge A Man By The Woman
by Heartland

Some judge a man by the way he shakes a hand
And if he looks a man in the eyes
By the way he treats his tools
The way he treats a fool
And the things that he can buy
His shoes, how they shine
All that I admit

I judge a man by the woman
And her smile, the light in her eyes
The way she holds him when they dance
She's the window to his soul
His best friend, don't you know
You judge the day by the sun
But you judge a man by the woman

You can spend all day watching work and play
Get to know his habits and his friends
Learn what makes him laugh, pry into his past
Find out what makes him cry and makes him sin
You might think you can right through
Oh, but the best thing you can do

Is judge a man by the woman
And her smile, the light in her eyes
The way she holds him when they dance
She's the window to his soul
His best friend, don't you know
You judge the day by the sun
But you judge a man by the woman

Judge a man by the woman
And her smile or the light in her eyes
The way she holds him when they dance
She's the window to his soul
His best friend, don't you know
You judge the day by the sun
But you judge a man by the woman
You judge a man by the woman

Happy 45th Birthday To My Knight!

2008-04-25T15:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Babe! I'm so blessed that God saw fit to joins us two, to be one. You are a Knight among men. You are my dream come true. I love you.

My poor Knight had to ump a little league game on his birthday. I, being the supportive wife that I am, went along. We all know how fans can be. I'm there to back him up and make sure no one gives him any trouble. They all know to behave when I'm around. Not that he can't stick up for himself, cause he does mighty fine on his own. I just like being there with him. Even though he's in the field and I'm in the stands. I hate to seem him go, but I love to watch him leave. ;o) Babe, you are one hot Blue. Who loves you Baby?! ;o)

For those that want to read more about my Knight's birthday celebration visit my family journal at: A Gland Into My World.

Great Expectations

2008-04-19T05:17:00.000-07:00

For those that read my other blog, be be warned. I reposted this entry there. I don't know if everyone that visits this blog, visits my other one. I wanted to be sure that everyone got to read it. I feel it's an important topic. Too often, we do have great expectations...

Great Expectations
by Dennis and Barbara Rainey

"For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh."
~Ephesians 5:31

My wife and I spent the first year and a half of our marriage in Boulder, Colorado, where the winters are cold and electric blankets are standard survival equipment. We fell into a habit of snuggling under those blankets but forgetting to turn out all the lights. And every time, Barbara would say, "Sweetheart, did you remember to turn out all the lights?"

Usually I would hop out of our comfy bed and run barefoot through the 55-degree apartment, turning off light after light (that Barbara had turned on). But one time I got fed up and groaned, "Honey, why don't you turn out the lights tonight?"

Barbara replied, "I thought you would because my dad always turned out the lights."

Suddenly I was wide awake. It dawned on me why I had been suffering occasional minor frostbite for the past few months. And I shot back, "But I'm not your dad!"

We stayed up for a long time, discussing expectations-what Barbara expected of me and what I expected of her-with many of those expectations stemming from what we had imported into our marriage from our homes.

When we were married, for dinner I expected meat and mounds of mashed potatoes with butter cascading down the sides. Alas, it was not to be. Barbara leans toward exotic tuna casseroles and lots of other things I could not begin to identify.

Each partner brings a certain set of expectations into a marriage. When they are not met, the drought of disillusionment can dry up the dialogue in the streams of our conversation.

Marriage provides a relationship where two people can hammer out realistic expectations. No mate will ever fulfill all of your desires in marriage. There is only One who is capable of that.

Prayer:

Ask God to help you to be realistic in your expectations of others.

*Discuss:* What expectations of your mate did you bring to your
marriage? Which ones were met? Which ones were not? How reasonable
are they? If you haven't ever done so, why not consider sitting down
and communicating your expectations to your spouse?

Who Is Your Enemy?

2008-04-16T16:09:00.000-07:00

Below is my devotion for today. I felt lead to share it. May you be blessed by it. I know I was.
Lady G~

Who Is Your Enemy?
by Dennis and Barbara Rainey

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood.
-Ephesians 6:12

A lot of jokes picture marriage as a battlefield. MS magazine once
advised: "Marriage is the only war where you sleep with the enemy."

I would rather picture the entire world as the true battlefield and
your marriage as being God's smallest battle formation for winning
the war. In truth, your marriage is taking place on a spiritual
battlefield, not a romantic balcony.

Every married couple needs to understand the following biblical
principle:

Your mate is not your enemy.

Picture your marriage as two people joined together in a foxhole,
cooperating in battle against a common enemy. Take a good look at
your own foxhole. Are you fighting the enemy or each other? As a
friend of ours told me, "I was so busy standing up in the foxhole
duking it out with my husband that I had no time to be involved in
fighting against the real enemy."

Keep in mind that whenever you declare war on your mate, ultimately
you are opposing God Himself. You are rejecting the person He
provided to complete you, to meet your needs.

Here's a practical test to discover if you view your mate as an
enemy or as a fellow "soldier." Do you focus on the negative in your
mate or on the positive? When you marry, you're so caught up in your
new spouse that he or she can seem to do no wrong. But within 12,000
miles or 12 months, whichever comes first, you reverse the process.
You are now so focused on what your mate does wrong that you are
oblivious to what he or she does right!

I love Robert Lewis Stevenson's exhortation for us as we look at our
spouses. He says, "Make the most of the best and the least of the
worst."

Prayer:

That God would make you aware of the true battle and enemy you face
each day, and how you need each other on that battlefield.

Discuss: Who is your real enemy? Think back to times when you have
forgotten who your real enemy was-how did that impact your marriage
and family? Do you treat your mate as a partner or as an enemy?

Parents PLEASE Teach You Sons!

2008-04-07T08:58:00.000-07:00

If you are a frequent visitor of my other blog: A Glance Into My World, please be warned that I posted this same message on both blogs. I felt lead to post it twice. Not everyone visits both blogs.

Let me start of by saying that I KNOW that parents ALSO need to teach their daughters. But I'm writing about the "sons" today. Because I'm getting sick and tired of hearing how rude and cruel some young men are. YES, I know that young ladies are too! But like I said, I'm focusing on the young men today. URGH!!!!!!!

Mom's we need to do a better job of teaching our sons how to treat girls. I'm saying moms, because we are their primary influence when they are young. Now, dad's you need to step up to the plate and show you sons how to treat young ladies. I say this to you, because once your sons are older, they need to be mentored by you, a grandfather, an uncle, a male church member, a caring neighbor or another "positive" male role model.

Soaring Amongst The Clouds has tennis twice a week at her school. Today the young man that made the rude comment last week, made another comment. *READ PREVIOUS POST HERE*He rolled up his short as high as they could go. The teacher asked him teasingly, "What are you doing? Roll those down they are too short." He replied, "Well, Soaring Amongst The Clouds wears short shorts." My Fair Maiden has the longest shorts in class!" She just couldn't believe that he was calling attention to her shorts and being singled out. Our Fair Maidens are modest. Ok, they don't wear turtle necks or skirts that touch the floor, but they are very modest. Not just in what they wear, but in how they speak and act. URGH!!!!! Now their mama, is another story. I want to go over there right now and wring that young man's neck!

As soon our dad gets home she's going to talk to him and see what if anything she can do about him. He's just giving her a hard time. She has tried ignoring him but that doesn't seem to discourage him.

My mom use to tell my brother, "You need to treat a girl like she's a rose petal. Treat them delicately." She told him this throughout his growing years. He died at 19, but let me tell you, girls LOVED him. I was 7 years his senior and my sister was 6 years his senior. Even so, you would think, poor guy, he didn't stand a chance. He did. He had charm, charisma and people were drawn to him.

I know that not everyone is like that, but we can teach our sons to be polite. To think before they speak. To be gentlemen. To help out and not sit there while a lady is trying to juggle bags. Moms need to give their sons opportunities to be young men. Let them help you carry the bags. Let them open the doors for you. Have them take the kitchen trash bags outside. Allow them to do "outdoor" work. They can weed, water the plants, cut the grass (if they are old enough). Give them the responsibility to take care of your indoor or outdoor pets. Allow them to clean your car, inside and out. Once they are old enough, allow them to pump the gas for you when your car needs gas. When you make the menu for the week, give him the opportunity to pick a couple of dinners for you too cook. These are only some ideas of what a mom can do to help their sons along.

Dad's there is so much you can do. One of the most important thing you can do is to LOVE and RESPECT your wife. This will set an example for him. When your wife gets home with the groceries, help her carry the bags. Better yet, carry the bags while she puts all the items away. When you are fixing the car, have your son help you. When you are doing yard work, get him involved. If you are working in the garage, let him give you a hand. If you are going to the hardware store or auto shop take him along. Spend time with him. Make sure he hears you edifying your wife.

Ladies, if you are divorced, I know it would be a little more difficult if dad isn't around. Allow the grandfather to be involved in his mentoring. If that is not a good idea, maybe a neighbor who has a son the same age or a church member. I knew this family who's dad had passed away. The mom had two young daughters and a young son (they were all under 10). The men of the church stepped up and mentored the young son. They included him in outings. They would invite him to baseball and basketball games. They taught him how to play ball. What a testimony all those men were to this family.

*NOTE: I'm not just saying this to moms and dads out there. This is ALSO a reminder to myself and my Knight. I know that it's sometimes easier for us just to "do it" ourselves. It takes TIME to show our children to "do things". But it's TIME WELL spent.

The most important thing parents can do is to PRAY for you sons. Let me share my prayer with you. You don't have to pray what I pray, but it's some of what I pray for my Squires. Oh, I pray this over my Knight too. ;o) This is in no particular order...

* for divine protection and perfect health
* That all behavior born out of hurt, rejection, or negative emotions/responses be healed
* Give him discernment, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, anointing, revelation, vision, faith and favor
* Create a desire and passion for God above all other things, wife and family next
* May he be a man giving of time, energy and prayer with accountability and follow through
* That he be man who submits, listens and obeys God with an insatiable hunger and thirst for God's Word, God's presence, and God's plans
* Search and know his heart, expose what is not pleasing and drive it from him
* Establish integrity in him, and guard his heart, mind and spirit with truth
* Give him courage to walk in that integrity too
* For his education, future mate, marriage, future children and generations to follow

Please keep in mind this is SOME of what I pray. The Lord will lead you differently. I did not "come up" with my prayer on my own. I'm not gifted with words. LOL! I learned from other moms and God leads me in my prayers. There are times that I think, "Wow, where did that come from? Cause that certainly isn't something I would say." Amazing how, when you open up to Him, He just fills you up.

I guess, I'm just trying to say, please remember your son is hearing and watching you. Be a positive example, not just for your's but others are watching too. Who knows, you could make a difference in someone's life.

Love Or Lust?

2008-04-07T07:32:00.000-07:00

"The desire to love is to give. The desire of lust is to get."
~author unknown

I LOVE my Knight....

Battling The Temptation Of The Eyes

2008-03-24T19:18:00.001-07:00

I know that this will probably ruffle some feathers. But I'm feeling lead to write about this. I know that this article talks about why men should guard their eyes. I'm here to say that women have to do the same too.

I know that I'm a visual person. I know we are all different. Praise the Lord for that! But I can honestly say that my eyes are for my Knight only. Yes, I see movies. Yes, I know that God created men handsomely. But I don't give a second glance. I don't entertain thoughts about other men. My thoughts are of my Knight. I'll even say this, when speaking with another man, I am careful not to look him in the eye. Like I've mentioned before, the eyes are the window to your soul. The only one that should be looking into my soul is my God and my Knight.

Ages ago, my Knight and I decided that we should guard ourselves and not be alone with someone of the opposite sex. That means, no lunch date with co-workers unless it's a mixed group and even then, not sitting next to the opposite sex. No riding in the car alone with the opposite sex. By guarding ourselves, we show respect for one another.

I want to respect and honor my Knight. I know that scripture tells us to do this. But that's not the only reason I do it. I do it because I love him.

Battling the Temptation of the Eyes
Dr. David B. Hawkins
The Relationship Doctor

"It’s okay to shop, as long as you don’t buy," I overheard a man say, chatting with one of his buddies at the gym.

"My wife gets a little rattled when I look at women," the second man continued, "but that’s her insecurity coming out."

"I don’t understand the big deal. I don’t see why they get so upset," the first added. "It’s all innocent fun."

Is that true? Are women fine with their husband’s ogling other women? Is it all innocent fun? Who’s having the fun, and how is it innocent?

My counseling experience reveals women hate it when their men look at other women on the street, on television, in magazines, or even on Internet pornography sites. Here’s a recent example from my counseling practice.

Beverly and John have been married twenty years, with three children in late adolescence. Their difficulties stem primarily from her increasing lack of security in their marriage, which is part of a vicious cycle involving John’s "innocent" interest in other women.

John describes himself as "a looker," but this has created greater insecurity for Beverly and has added to tension in their physical relationship.

John, feeling deprived and entitled to sex any time he wanted, has became resentful when Beverly insisted that their emotional relationship be strong in order to enjoy a strong sexual relationship. While she has never deprived James of a sexual relationship, the frequency has not been what he wanted, and he let her know he resented her for it. She has pleaded for him to stop watching other women, which he has continued to minimize.

They came to counseling hoping to end their vicious cycle, hoping to create a more intimate relationship, something they seem to have lost.

Beverly has tried to share her sadness and resentment about John’s behavior. She has explained to him that looking at other women was not innocent to her. James offered this response.

"Everyone knows men are visual, and it’s only natural for men to look. I’ve never cheated on Beverly. Guys will be guys. I don’t think she has any right to be upset about this. It’s not like it is our only problem."

Beverly countered, obviously exasperated and deeply hurt.

"I can’t believe he can say these things, and do these things, knowing how hurtful it is to me. I feel betrayed every time he leers at women on the street. I can’t compete with some of those women, and I’m not going to try. It just opens the wound back up again, and I want to push away from him even more. We’re caught in a vicious cycle."

Some time ago, in my book When Pleasing Others is Hurting You, I wrote about an old-fashioned concept -- chastity, and it is a concept we seem to have lost. Consider how this word and meaning may apply to men today:

Chastity —simplicity of affections, purity of intentions.

Can men "shop" as long as they don’t buy? No, because our affections need to be kept simple—on our wife. Can men look at the merchandise as long as they don’t touch? Of course not. Our intentions are not pure. Our fantasies are not pure.

In fact, I teach men that when meeting others of the opposite sex we send out a signal:

Green Light: Body stance is open, eyes are direct, conversation is
engaging. We are available for a relationship.

Yellow Light: Caution—however, let’s talk, flirt a little, and
possibly even move into a closer relationship.

Red Light: Stop! Don’t even think about it. I’m taken and I will
guard my boundaries vigorously.

Too many married men think they can flirt with danger, sending out yellow and green lights. They may even think their behavior is innocent when it is anything but that. We’re flirting with danger when we allow ourselves to take a second and third look at a beautiful woman. In the "yellow zone" we allow ourselves to be playful with women, talking flirtatiously. Taking the "look" further into the realm of pornography is particularly damaging to the "looker" and to their mate.

The Apostle James warns us about temptations.

"Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged
away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth
to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
(James 1: 14-15)

Stephen Arteburn, in his book, Everyman’s Battle, offers several lines of defense from temptation of the eyes. First, recognize that this attraction threatens everything I hold dear. Again, there is nothing innocent about flirting with danger. It leads to greater temptation and hurts your mate, damaging your marriage. Second, recognize I have no right to this. Other women are off limits. You are taken and belong to someone else. Third, heighten the red alert. See the dangers in this "innocent activity," and treat it like you would treat any dangerous situation.

What does this mean practically? It means that like John, we must learn to bounce our eyes off attractive women. We cannot afford our glances to become stares. We must avoid dangerous, flirtatious situations. Conversations with women can be friendly, but must give the distinct message, "This relationship can go no further, not now, not ever!"

Finally, we must honor and cherish our wives by letting them know they are who we want to be with. They are the one that excite us and our marriages are dear and valuable to us. Our energies, emotions and eyes are focused on them. We choose chastity -- to focus our affections and intentions on our mate with purity.

David Hawkins, Pd.D., has worked with couples and families to improve the quality of their lives by resolving personal issues for the last 30 years. He is the author of over 18 books.

Never Judge A Book By It's Cover

2008-02-25T13:19:00.000-08:00

My Knight once told me, "Never judge a book by it's cover." We were only 16 at the time. How can someone be so wise at the age of 16? If you are interested in how we met and courted, check my entry called, How I Met My Knight.

He was different than all my guy friends. There was something about him. Even at that age, he had this presence about him. He was intelligent. He had a dry humor, uniquely his own. He was good in every sport. He had his private pilot license. At the age of 10 he was the one that did the budget for his family and paid all the bills. He knew how to have fun, but was level headed enough not to do something just for the sake of doing it. He had two jobs. He worked at Burger King and as a security guard. He knew how to enjoy his off time. Before he had a car, he would ride his bike to the beach. Which happen to be 11 miles away. Yep, he rode that on a ten speed bike. He was into martial arts. He was also quite the marksman. He was quiet and I'd even say shy. He was a young man of few words. But when he spoke, one would want to hear what he had to say. He had a way about him. I didn't take the time to look "inside" the book. I can't believe I almost let him slip through my fingers.

He didn't hang around with the popular kids in school. He had his lifelong friends and that was good enough. He started the Aviation club in high school. He was part of the honor society. For him there was no need to "belong" to what other's thought were the "in" clubs. He was fine being who he was. For him, honesty was the best policy. When he spoke the truth, it wasn't blunt, it was just matter of fact. He was right of course, but I was not use to that. I was use to things being sugar coated. People agreeing even though they really didn't agree deep down. In essence, I was use to people being untruthful. He was different. He was what I needed, but I didn't realize it.

He was a handsome young man. But I was judging him by what I saw, what I noticed. I didn't give him the chance to really get to know him. He was right, I should not have judged a book by it's cover. But God is good... ALL the time. He knew that we were meant to be. We had been given a third chance.

When we got married he was 19 and I was one week away from turning 19. So "officially" I was 18. This Spring & Summer my Knight and I will be celebrating our 45th birthday and our 26th wedding anniversary. I know many at our wedding were thinking, "No way is this going to last. They are too young. What's the real reason they are getting married so quickly? They are crazy!" The only ones who gave us their full support was my family. All I have to say is, that we have never regretted getting married so young. We have grown together as a couple. We have been there for one another every step of the way. We encouraged each other. At that young age, we knew our love was a special love. The one people dream of and hope for. We were blessed to have found it while we were young. We are even more blessed that we still have that same, dare I even say deeper love and understanding for one another.

My cup runneth over...

My heart's desire is for our children to be, even more blessed than what my Knight and I have been blessed with. For their marriage to have the unconditional love that is written in Scriptures. The unconditional love my Knight and I have for one another. May they be blessed tenfolds. May their children and generations to follow them be blessed too.

30-Day SEX Challenge

2008-02-22T06:17:00.001-08:00

I'm sure by now many have heard of the pastor of a little church in Florida. He proposed a 30-Day SEX Challenge to his congregation. I'm sure this raised lots of eyebrows, I know that it did with me. I found this interesting. So I went to their site to check it out.

At first, my Knight and I thought, "What if you aren't married?". Well, he challenged those that aren't married to a 30-Days of Abstinence. Imagine that! What a concept! My other thought was, "What about those that can't keep up with the 30-Day challenge because of health reason?" Not that I have a problem with this. LOL! RABBIT CHASING: Years ago while we were in a couples Sunday School class, the subject of intimacy with your spouse came up. Someone mentioned something and I blurted out "Oh we don't have a problem in that department!". I still can't believe I said that! To this day (15+ years later) they haven't let me live it down.

RABBIT BACK IN THE CAGE: I want to be the wife, mom & woman God wants me to be. So aside from reading His Word, I read books and articles about being a better wife, mom and woman. I don't do it fore me, I do it for my loved ones. BUT, by doing it for them, it blesses not only them, but it blesses me too. By having a good and healthy relationship with my Knight, we are setting an example for our children.

This 30-Day challenge is not only a sex challenge. It's an intimate, soul searching challenge with yourself and your spouse. Can't get any better than that! God has a wonderful way of putting things together. The online devotions I received, all had to do with my entry's topic. It's not because it's been on the news lately, cause some of the devotions came from books that were already written. It's a God thing.

I'll share this one with you today...

Chemical Reaction

My son, give attention to my wisdom, incline your ear to my understanding; that you may observe discretion.
-Proverbs 5:1-2

High school chemistry taught me a very valuable lesson: When certain substances come into close contact they can form a chemical reaction. I proved that one day during my senior year of high school when I dropped a jar full of pure sodium off a bridge into a river and nearly blew up the bridge. You'd think I would have at least had enough sense to step off the bridge!

"What I've learned since then is that many people don't respect the laws of chemistry any more than I did back then. They mix volatile ingredients without giving much thought to the explosion that could occur. In particular, many married people don't understand that a chemical reaction can occur with people other than their mates. Don't misunderstand me here-I'm not just talking about sexual attraction. I'm referring to a reaction of two hearts, the chemistry of two souls.

"This is emotional adultery-an intimacy with the opposite sex outside the marriage. Emotional adultery is unfaithfulness of the heart. When two people begin talking of intimate struggles, doubts or feelings, they may be sharing their souls in a way that God intended exclusively for the marriage relationship. Emotional adultery is friendship with the opposite sex that has progressed too far.

"Often it begins as a casual relationship at work, school or even church. A husband talks with a female co-worker over coffee and shares some struggles he's facing with his wife or kids. She tells of similar problems, and soon the emotions ricochet so rapidly that their hearts ignite and can ultimately become fused together as one. To those who have experienced it, this catalytic "bonding" seems too real to deny.

"You can take some steps to practice discretion in these matters. That's what I'll discuss in the next devotion.

Prayer:
"That God will give you wisdom and discernment to know when you might be risking a "chemical reaction."

Discussion:
In what situations can Christians find themselves committing emotional adultery?

By Dennis and Barbara Rainey
Moments Together For Couples

Simply Romantic... Tips

2008-01-12T14:16:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted one of these in quite a while. I figured it's time. :o)

TIP: Take a class together. Find a topic, hobby, or sport you both want to learn more about--and sign up!

My Knight and I have been married 25 years. Ah... I love saying that. :o) I guess it helps that we have similar interests. I guess it also helps that I'm sporty too. LOL! Through the years we've done so many different things.

He's always enjoyed photography. Even though I wasn't so much into it, I would still go with him and see him develop the films. I enjoyed watching him "play" with the different lenses and take pictures of what he found interesting. Just being with him was good enough for me.

We have played all sorts of sports: tennis, raquetball, snow skiing, windsurfing, bowling and softball just to name a few. He's always enjoyed playing basketball and football. When he played, I'd go and cheer him on. It didn't matter if I was the only wife there. I was there for my Knight and that's what mattered.

We use to cook together. That was always fun. But now our Fair Maidens are the ones that cook. I must say they do a great job at it too.

Putting a puzzle together is always fun and relaxing. During Summer breaks, we always have one out on the card table. Not only is it fun for the family, but once everyone else is asleep, it's nice to sit and talk while we are "puzzling". :o)

Once things slow down a bit, we plan on taking dancing lessons. I LOVE to dance. I know that we'll enjoy taking lessons together.

Any ideas you'd like to add? Feel free to post them!

Because Of...

2008-01-03T05:38:00.000-08:00

......................... the example he set before me, I...

................................... married my Knight.

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You...

2007-12-28T09:59:00.001-08:00

Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
~Rod Stewart

Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there's no one else above you
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles thats what you do

For the morning sun in all its glory
Greets the day with hope and comfort too
You fill my life with laughter
And somehow you make it better
Ease my troubles thats what you do
Theres a love thats divine
And its yours and its mine like the sun
And at the end of the day
We should give thanks and pray
To the one, to the one

Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there's no one else above you
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles thats what you do

Theres a love thats divine
And its yours and its mine like the sun
And at the end of the day
We should give thanks and pray
To the one, to the one

And have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there's no one else above you
You fill my heart with gladness
Take away my sadness
Ease my troubles thats what you do
Take away all my sadness
Fill my life with gladness
Ease my troubles thats what you do
Take away all my sadness
Fill my life with gladness
Ease my troubles thats what you do

A Lifetime With You

2007-12-08T17:17:00.000-08:00

My Dearest Knight,

As I write this you are 250+ miles away. You've been gone 11 hours and I feel like you've been gone a lifetime. I miss not having you with me. We have spoken on the phone a couple of times and it comforts me. Not that the conversations were important ones, for we just talked about little things, but just the sound of your voice fills my heart with joy.

I know that you'll be back tomorrow, but tomorrow is still a long ways ahead. When you aren't here, it's hard for me to sleep. Not because I'm scared or lonely. It's just that I love being with you. I love knowing that I can reach out and you are there. You are there for me to goose (grinning), kiss, caress, hug, talk to or just to look at.

I cherish our time together. We've been married over half of our lifetime. I'm looking forward to what God has in store for us. May the best of our past, be the worst of our future.

forever yours...
Your Lady~

"I would rather spend one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone!"
~Arwin

A Quote On Love

2007-10-27T13:39:00.001-07:00

"Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket–safe, dark, motionless, airless–it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable."
~ C. S. Lewis

The other day I ate a Dove chocolate. Inside the wrapper was written, "Dare to love completely." Hmmm... why not? I dare you...

Why Do You Love Me?

2007-10-09T17:12:00.000-07:00

My Big Fat Greek Wedding is one of my favorite movies to watch. It reminds me of my family. It's funny and I think that in some way, everyone can relate to it.

I've watched that movie so many times, that I can quote some of the lines. But there are two quotes from this movie that really move me...

"Why do you want to leave me?"
This line is said by the dad to his daughter. I love my dad very much. It's because of his example that I married my Knight. To this day, you'll hear this quote spoken in our Castello, we say it teasingly. But with lots of love.

"Why do you love me? Because I became alive when I met you."
The question was asked by the lead actress. The answer she received just melted my heart. It made me think, "Wow, I know that I had a life, a happy life before my Knight came along. But I never dreamed it could get better." It has... and I soooo look forward to what's ahead. My cup runneth over...

Quote About Courtship And Marriage

2007-10-05T16:19:00.000-07:00

I came across a quote about marriage that really spoke to me. I hope you'll be blessed by it...

"If couples would put half the effort into marriage that they put into
courtship, they would be surprised how things would brighten up."
-Billy Graham

A Jewel

2007-08-23T07:53:00.000-07:00

The purpose of a jewel is not so much to shine with it’s own light, but to reflect and refract the light around it.
-Jaki

My Knight is a jewel. He shines because he is reflecting His light.

I Do Believe In Soul Mates

2007-08-09T13:50:00.000-07:00

I read an article the other day named, Marrying Your 'Soul Mate': Does Such a Person Exist? It left me wondering. Does one "really" have a soul mate?

Ok, if you go and read this article, you might think, "Hey this doesn't apply to me, it's written about and for divorced people." Au contrair il mio caro, I think we would all benefit from reading this article.

The Ladies of the HAUS are women whose opinions I truly value. You see, they are from all walks of life. They are godly women, who hold nothing back. They speak the truth and are tactful, gentle, graceful and are not judgmental. They are wise beyond their years. They are my sisters in Christ. Oh, and I have never met them face to face. BUT I look forward to meeting them all at our Father's Home. :o) You Ladies ROCK!

I asked the Ladies of the HAUS , "Do you believe that there was only one person you were meant to marry? They all believed, that yes, there was only one person they were meant to marry. They all thought the same but expressed themselves in different ways. Below is the response I liked .

"I believe at any juncture along your life journey God can put a "soul mate" in your path, someone who fits you perfectly. I believe if you lose your soul mate (by whatever means) God can lead you to another, suited perfectly for you.
~Lady Blue

I think I liked it best because it's exactly what I thought and felt, but I could not put into words. I know, that I know, that I was meant to marry my Knight. He is my soul mate. God brought us together. Whom God has brought together, let no man put asunder... Amen

So now I wonder... Do YOU believe that there is only one person you are/were meant to marry?

How I Met My Knight

2007-07-28T09:42:00.000-07:00

I don't remember this, but we met wayyyyyyy back in first grade. We were in the same class and we "liked" each other. I know this because YEARS after we got married, my mom found a box with mementos from my childhood. In this box, was a construction paper that was cut in the a shape of a fish. It was decorated and colored. On the back of the fish, a note was written. "love" and my Knight's first name. In this box was also a Christmas Recital bulletin. Written on this bulletin were the names of all the first grade students. My Knight and I had the same teacher. In our class there were no other students with my Knight's name. He has an uncommon last name. At the end of the year, we moved away to a different part of Miami.

I was a sophomore in 1978-1979. I had signed up for a class. Turned out that the class was over booked. They picked four students from my class and moved them to the new College Vocabulary class. I was one of the four students picked from my class. Turns out that the same thing happened to a blue eyed boy. He was one of the students picked from his class to be moved to the new College Vocabulary class.

Background: I have always felt a little uncomfortable looking at people in the eye. Back then I didn't know why I felt that way, but now I know why. The eyes are a window to your soul. You can see what they feel and think. Being that I was shy and a little bit of an introvert, I didn't want people to "see me". I just wanted to blend in and not stand out.

The first day in my new class, I quickly went in and sat in the first seat I saw available. I noticed that in the row next to me, a couple of seats ahead was a boy who kept slightly turning his head to look at me. He had the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen. He'd turn away when I would look and I would turn away when I noticed him looking. That's how it all began... with a glance.

One day after class as I was walking down the hall, I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was "him", the boy with the deep blue eyes. He told me he was a DJ. (* note- more on this later) and wondered if I'd like to go to a party he was going to be working at. I told him, I'd have to ask my parents. He handed me a paper (which I still have), with the address and his phone number. I gave him my phone number too. *note-During his high school years, he was a disc jocky. Which is a little hard to believe, because he was so quiet. It was a little out of character for him to be a DJ, but he loved music.

Background: My dad was very old fashioned. He didn't believe in having boyfriends. You could have friends that were boys, but no "boyfriend". We were allowed to go out with groups of friends ONLY if my mom went along with us.

I asked for permission to attend the party. It was given. The blue eyed boy asked me what time he could pick me up. I told him I'd meet him there. Poor thing, he had no clue what he was getting into. Since I wasn't allowed to go on dates, not only did I show up with my mom, but my sister and three girlfriends came along. Remember, my parents didn't believe in exclusive relationships. The only way I was allowed to go out was in a group and chaperoned. I'm sure he was shocked, but he didn't show it. He was glad I went. Our first dance was a slow dance. The song was, How Deep Is Your Love by The Bee Gees. A couple of weeks later, I invited him to a party my family was invited to. We had a great time. We hung around the same group of friends, but we kept our distance.

At the end of our senior year, the blue eyed boy was having a graduation party, or so I thought. He invited me. I was unable to attend. I ended up being hospitalized. I had been having recurring fainting spells. So they were running tests. Once I got out from the hospital, I called him to say I was sorry I missed his party. His mom answered and told me he had joined the Army. The party was a going away party. My heart sank. I thought I'd never see him again.

A week later on November 4, 1981, I received a letter. It was a letter from the blue eyed boy. He had called his mom to see how they were all doing. His mom mentioned that I had called. When he hung up with her, he called his best friend. He asked him to go to his (the blue eyed boy's) home and look for his yearbook. You see, I had signed his yearbook and had included my phone number and address. I don't know why I put that in there. I hadn't done that for any one else, only his. This letter, was the first of many letters. And so began our courtship. We really got to know each other through our letters. We were able to share our hearts. We felt free to say things that I know that we wouldn't have said if we were face to face. I knew that he was the one for me.

He had a two week leave in December 1981. I met his family for the first time when my mom and I went to greet him at the airport. We all know that there is something about a man in uniform. BUT when I saw my blue eyed boy, walking towards us in his uniform, he took my breath away. He spent most of his time with me and my family. But he made sure he spent time with his family too. During his leave, we went to the movies together for the first time. He took me to see Cinderella. After the movie, we went for a walk on the marina. That's were we kissed for the first time. When his leave was up, it was hard to watch him leave.

He finished basic training in February 1982. He had leave for a couple of days, so he came home to visit. Once again, he spent most of his time with me and my family. But he always made time for his family too. This time when he left, it was even harder. We didn't know when we'd see each other again. I wrote to him every day, sometimes I even wrote to him twice a day. He was able to call me every Saturday. Needless to say, I was always waiting for his call.

One Saturday in April 1982, the man of my dreams had asked me to marry him. I said yes, without even talking to my parents. He didn't want us to wait any longer, would two months (June 1982) be too soon? Looking back, I don't know how it was done. My mom and Abuela planed a wedding for over 500 guest in less than 2 months. I trusted them to plan our wedding. I picked out my dress, my Knight's tux, the bridesmaid dressed, the best man's tux, all the usher's tux's, the flowers, the color scheme, the invitations and the cake. Oh, we had 12 in our wedding party. Everything else, my mom and Abuela did. I was the most stress free bride ever! Well, except for when the priest wouldn't allow us to change our wedding date for the third time. My Knight was having trouble getting his leave accepted. So when we had to have changed for the third time, the priest said that we were treating marriage as if it were a joke. He refused to change it... UNTIL my dad made a "donation" to the church. The time and date was picked... 3:30p on June 19, 1982

Saturday, June 19,82, I woke up to a lot of commotion. I, on the other hand was very calm. I had such a peace... a happy peace. My sister went off to get her nails done. My parents were busy packing up the car and taking last minute things to the reception hall. I was left alone at home to get myself ready. As the time drew near, I was dressed and ready to go, but my dad hadn't even gotten ready. My sister had left with my mom and my brother. I was all dressed up, sitting down and watching Star Trek with the limo driver, while my dad was patiently getting ready. We arrived at the church almost an hour late. The priest had already gone up to the rectory and said he wasn't going to marry us. My dad went up to see him. He made another "donation" to the church. He came down and married us. My Knight and I have joked that my dad had to pay to get me off of his hands.

We had a one day honeymoon at the Fontainebleau in Miami. My Knight had to report back to duty on Monday. So we had to drive from Miami to Louisiana. Our first home was in Ft. Polk, Louisiana. I had never been away from my family. My home was with my family. Now my home was wherever my Knight was. As a young lady of 18 years of age, I thought, "I would follow him where ever he would go." To this day, 25 years later, my place is by his side. I would still follow him no matter where he goes....

A couple of years after we got married my Knight shared something with me. He told me that when I first walked into the classroom, he had leaned over and whispered something to his friend. I asked him what he had whispered. He had told his friend, "That's the girl I'm going to marry."

Be still my heart...

Simply Romantic... Tips

2007-07-22T18:02:00.001-07:00

I'm always looking for ways to show my Knight that I love him. I'm not very creative, I'm a "creative wanna-be". I enjoy reading, so I'll read articles, blogs, and subscribe to different sites that send out devotions, stories and tips.

Family Life website has LOTS to offer. I subscribe to most of the subscriptions they have. One of my favorites is Simply Romantic- Tips For Her. Once a week I receive an email with a "tip" on romance. There have been times that I've added a little twist or perked up the tip. Some of the tips are not "romantic" but are loving, helpful tips. I thought I'd share a couple of the "tips" I've gotten from Family Life. After the Family Life tips, I'll share some of my(and his) favorite loving gestures, that I've done for my Knight.

* Present him a "Journal of My Love for You" – a journal that you will fill with dated love letters written to your husband over a period of time.

* Get a picture of you and your husband (and kids if you'd like) and create a special card for him. Include a Scripture that you feel describes him. (For example, Acts 11:24: "For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.")

* Be a student of your spouse. Know his likes and dislikes, his strengths and weaknesses, and his fears.

* For a significant anniversary--buy him a gold watch. Engrave it with a romantic phrase like “I’ll always have time for you.”

* Think of a couple of things that your honey does for you and the family (he is a good provider, he can fix things, etc.) and let him know how much you appreciate him.

* Men view romance differently from women. Ask your husband to describe what’s romantic to him. Don’t be surprised when his ideas sound very different from yours.

* Wash and vacuum his car. To top it all off--top off his gas tank too.

* The next time you're out to dinner, casually take out a pen and write a note to him on a paper napkin--letting him know what he can look forward to at home. Fold it and slide it across the table.

~ My Knight enjoys reading. Once when he had to go away on a trip, I made a special bookmark for him. I typed up the scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18, The Armor of God. I wrote a brief note: My Dearest Knight, This is my prayer for us while we are apart. Forever yours... Your Lady G~
I printed it out on old English paper and the script was Old English Style. I had the bookmark laminated. After 10 years, he still has this bookmark and still uses it.

~ My Knight sometimes has to travel, either because of work or due to little league umpiring. When he travels, I pack a two sided picture frame that I made for him. On one side there is a picture of him and I. On the other side there is a picture of our five children. That way he has us with him where ever he goes.

~ I leave "love notes" in unexpected places: on his palm pilot, in his brief drawer, inside a pant pocket, in his wallet, on the doorknob (he the first to leave home every day), in his sock drawer etc.

~ I write love messages on the bathroom mirror with my lipstick.

~ I write notes and cards and mail them to his office. He never knows when he's getting one. I have even sent him those HUGE cards. Oh, now Hallmark Cards have cards with sounds. I love sending him those. The problem is now he knows what the envelope looks like, so I have to be creative on how to send them. :o)

~ We take out the trash, so he doesn't have to.

~ We keep the pool chemicals balanced and the pool clean, so he doesn't have to.

~ We try to keep our acres plowed, so he doesn't have to.

~ He loves dark chocolate, so I'll buy him a bag for home and one for work.

~ I make sure he laundry is always done. So he can wear his favorite clothing items.

~ I ask him, "What can I do to help you our?"

~ I massage cream on his hands.

~ I massage his aching back.

~ I send him love notes to his home and office email address.

~ I tell him and show him I love him EVERY day... throughout the day.

I love my Knight. I could go on and on, but I'm being summoned. It's time for dessert.

Thursday Thirteen #21: He Does He Doesn't

2007-07-19T04:31:00.000-07:00

The other day I was thinking about the Daisy flowers. They are so pretty. So spring and summery. Then the childhood game of "he loves me, he loves me not" popped into my mind. Hmmm, why not make a TT list with a twist. Here are some, "He Does, He Doesn't" about my Knight.

He does tell me he loves me.
He doesn't hurt me with words.

He does make me feel loved.
He doesn't hurt me with actions.

He does encourage me.
He doesn't focus on my weaknesses.

He does laugh with me.
He doesn't laugh at me.

He does apologize when wrong.
He doesn't have to much, cause he's seldom wrong. LOL!

He does love me for being me.
He doesn't focus on my faults.

He does make me feel the most blessed woman in the world...

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Food For Thought

2007-07-10T13:25:00.001-07:00

This morning, I found this quote in my email in box. I had just been thinking about this very thing. It's what I call a God-incidence.

"If couples would put half the effort into marriage that they put into
courtship, they would be surprised how things would brighten up."
-Billy Graham

WOW!!! How very true! Some think, why work at it? We're already married. Au contraire, the journey has just begun. The best is yet to be.

People work hard at their jobs. Some want to climb the corporate ladder. Some work hard for the money. They work hard towards whatever goals they've set for themselves. But when it comes to marriage, some just want to coast.

I don't like to use the word "work", it sounds like, well work. But for lack of a better word, I have to use it. I believe that if you want to have a great marriage, you have to work at it. Courtship is just the beginning. The goal is not just marriage. The goal is a blessed marriage journey. Not that one gives 50% and the other gives 50% to equal 100%. It's giving a 100% of yourself. Our cup should overflow with love and giving to our beloved one.

After 25 years (I love saying that), my Knight still opens and closes the car door for me. When we go somewhere, he opens the door for me and allows me to enter first. When in crowded areas, he leads the way. When standing still in a crowded area, he stands behind me. He carries the heavy items, so I don't have to. He'll surprise me with my favorite chocolate or a pint of my favorite ice cream (just for me). He'll call me up and say, "let's go out tonight". This all sounds so trivial, but that's just the beginning.

My Knight and I "work" at our marriage. We are both working towards the same goal. We want to be the spouse God wants us to be. We want to please Him. By pleasing Him, we can't go wrong. In turn, we end up being the spouse God intends for us to be. We put each other first. It sounds so simplistic and it is. The problem is that "self" gets in the way. We have to daily (hourly, every minute) choose to die to self. In giving our best to our beloved, our beloved will want to give their best too.

Not only do My Knight and I benefit from this giving of each other. Our children benefit too. Others who are watching (without us knowing) can tell the difference too. I'm not trying to be boastful. I'm just sharing my heart. I know that there is no way our marriage would be this blessed if it wasn't because we have God in our lives.

Like everything else in life, it all boils down to choice. I choose to have a blessed marriage. I choose to love (verb) and focus on the positive instead of the negative.

My prayer is that whoever reads this chooses what they know God would want them to choose. Following God's will for our lives is ALWAYS the right choice.

Through The Years

2007-06-19T10:43:00.001-07:00

My Dearest Knight,

On June 19,1982, twenty five years ago today, I married you, my Knight in shining armor. I can and can't believe we've been married for twenty five years. It feels like we just got married and at the same time it feels like we've been together for as long as I can remember. You are my best friend, my soul mate, the man that has surpassed my "dreams". I didn't think it was possible to love you more than the day that I married you, but I do.

You know how hard it is for me to say with words just what you mean to me. Not because I can't express myself, but because you leave me speechless. You take my breath away. My heart skips a beat when I look at you. I treasure our time together. I thank God that he brought you into my life. I'm blessed beyond measure. Through the years, I've thought it can't get any better than this, but I've been wrong. You have made my dreams come true. I'm living the "happily ever after" that all women dream of.

On our wedding day , our first dance was to Kenny Rogers' song, Lady. The first verse says, "Lady, I'm your Knight in shining armor and I love you...". I called you My Knight and you called me your Lady before this song ever came out. So it was very appropriate for us to dance to this song. Years later, in 1999, Kenny Rogers came out with another song, Through The Years. When I first heard this song, I knew that it would become one of "our" songs too. Today I dedicate this song to you. I love you...

forever yours...
Your Lady

Through The Years
by Kenny Rogers

I can't remember when you weren't there
When I didn't care for anyone but you
I swear we've been through everything there is
Can't imagine anything we've missed
Can't imagine anything the two of us can't do

Through the year, you've never let me down
You turned my life around, the sweetest days I've found
I've found with you ... through the years
I've never been afraid, I've loved the life we've made
And I'm so glad I've stayed, right here with you
Through the years

I can't remember what I used to do
Who I trusted whom, I listened to before
I swear you've taught me everything I know
Can't imagine needing someone so
But through the years it seems to me
I need you more and more

Through the years, through all the good and bad
I knew how much we had, I've always been so glad
To be with you ... through the years
It's better everyday, you've kissed my tears away
As long as it's okay, I'll stay with you
Through the years

Through the years, when everything went wrong
Together we were strong, I know that I belonged
Right here with you ... through the years
I never had a doubt, we'd always work things out
I've learned what loves about, by loving you
Through the years

Through the years, you've never let me down
You've turned my life around, the sweetest days I've found
I've found with you ... through the years
It's better everyday, you've kissed my tears away
As long as its okay, I'll stay with you
Through the years!

Thursday Thirteen #20

2007-06-14T06:49:00.001-07:00

This coming Sunday we'll be celebrating Father's Day. I'm blessed to say the my dad is still here with me. My dad was always my hero. I looked up to him. He set an awesome example for me as to what a man is and should be. Whoever I married had big shoes to fill.

Today I'll share 13 thoughts about my dad...

* He loves unconditionally. He has been wronged by many and still he does not wish them ill.

* He gives and gives... and expects nothing in return.

* He's habitually late for EVERYTHING! For as long as I can remember, he has NEVER been on time for ANYTHING. Through the years, when he's invited, people tell him a much earlier time, so he will be there at a decent time.

* He's old fashioned. He'll stand up and give his seat to a lady. He opens the door for the ladies.

* Only buys "American Made" things. I've often heard him say, "We have to buy American and support our country. "

* He's a patriot. He served in the American Army. He loves and supports our country. He's thankful to have the freedom he has.

* To him family, ALWAYS comes first.

* He's a gentleman.

* He's got great work ethics, good values, good morals and high standards. While growing up, I remember at one time he had two jobs, so that my mom could stay home and take care of us. I was not allowed to date as a teenager. He believed in courtship.

* He's not a "pretender". What you see is what you get.

* He's funny and makes those around him feel at ease.

* He's wise. He's always given me great advise.

* He charming. My dad is 71 years old. My mom and dad are still married. He's not one to call attention to himself, but he still attracts attention. Once when they were visiting us, we went out to eat. A lady at the salad bar invited him to do dancing. Me and my sister were right there standing next to him. This happens to him all the time. LOL!

I love my dad. I wanted to marry someone just like him. I have to honestly say that my Knight is and is not like my dad. I'm so blessed that God has given me two wonderful men to love. I think that's the reason it was so easy for me to relate with our Heavenly Father. I have such a wonderful earthly father.

Happy Father's Day Papi... I love you! XOxoXO

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Character

2007-06-10T18:56:00.000-07:00

God sure has a way with things. His timing is always impeccable. Today waiting for me in my email in box, was an email from a site I subscribe to. They send me a daily inspiration.

I have to be honest, there are times that I just don't take the time to read it. Today's inspiration caught my eye. It was titled, "Character". Since lately I've been writing about my Knight's character, I though it was only fitting for me to share the "inspiration" I had just received...

Character

Character is often determined not by when we do what we must,
but by when we do what is voluntary.

It is tested far more by charity, than obligation.

It appears not so much in what the public sees,
but shows itself clearer in what is done in private.

~A Mountain Wing Original

An Action Speaks A Thousand Words

2007-06-09T16:25:00.000-07:00

It's been a difficult couple of weeks. A Glance Into My World has more details so I won't have to re post it here.

My Knight has shown with actions, just how much I and our children mean to him. He, like everyone else is a busy man. He leaves for work at 6a. and arrives at home between 5-6p. He's a baseball umpire and the president of the little league. He is always getting calls. Some are good and some are well... not so good. I don't know how he does it, but he stays calm and collected. Well, I do know, it's because God dwells within him.

I shared about how busy he is because things have been a little topsy turvy around here. Through it all... God has given us grace, peace and mercy. My Knight has done the groceries, done his ironing, helped to take care of the ones that have been under the weather, has cooked, kept up with the "outdoor" duties, and ran back and forth to the pharmacy for medications. All this is expected. It's as it should be. It's how it's suppose to be. For so many it's not. that... breaks my heart.

He never once complained about cleaning up our child's mess. He didn't belittle the one who wasn't able to "make it" to the restroom. He stood by and comforted the one that was moaning cause the pain was too much for his little body. He gently rubbed our little one's belly as he spoke softly trying to comfort him. Along with the one's that have been ill, I too have been getting very little sleep. So, I try to catch some sleep when I can. My Knight doesn't wake me up. He lets me sleep and rest. He doesn't ask, what can I do to help? He sees and does what is needed. He'll call on his way home from work and see if there was anything he needs to bring home to his family.

My Knight is a man like no other. I will forever be grateful to God for bringing the two of us together. Yes, an action speaks a thousand words... I keep hearing/seeing, "I LOVE YOU".
I'm so blessed...

Build Me A Son

2007-05-29T11:18:00.000-07:00

I subscribe to different email devotions. I thought I'd share the one below. My thoughts are shared after the devotion...

BUILD ME A SON

The following prayer was written by General Douglas MacArthur:

"Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is
weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be
proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory.

"Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should
be; a son who will know Thee....Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease
and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge.
Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion
for those who fail.

"Build me a son whose heart will be clean, whose goal will be high; a
son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who
will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; one who will reach into
the future, yet never forget the past.

"And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of
humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too
seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity
of greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength.

"Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, 'I have not lived in vain.'"

Though most of us are not nearly so eloquent, I suspect that all
Christian parents have uttered a similar prayer. Mindful of the great
responsibility that God has given those of us with children, we pray
fervently that God would help us as we strive to train our children in the
ways of the Lord.

While still childless, Hannah made this vow to God: "O Lord of hosts,
if you will indeed look on the affliction of your maidservant and remember
me, and not forget your maidservant, but will give your maidservant a male
child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life...." (I
Samuel 1:11). It was a vow she kept, and her son Samuel became one of the
greatest spiritual leaders Israel ever knew.

May Hannah's prayer and Gen MacArthur's prayer be the prayer of all
Christian parents this day.
-Alan Smith

God has blessed me with three girls and two boys. Being that this devotions was about boys, I'll keep to the topic of my boys.

I've said it over and over, how blessed I am. I'll never tire of saying it and I'll never stop believing it. I'm blessed in so many ways. One way I'm blessed, is to have the best husband in the world. I know we all feel "ours" is the best. In my heart I know he was meant for me. He was meant to be the father of my children. We are meant to grow old together.

The prayer above was written by General MacArthur, many years before I was born. When I read his prayer, my Knight came to mind. This is how I see him. He is all that, that prayers asks for and more. My heart's desire is for my Squires, my little boys to grow up and be the best "they" can be. Not that they have to "be" like their dad, but strive to be the best that "they" can be.

My Knight leads by example. He's a great role model. Not just for my boys but for those around him. He makes those around "want" to do better. He's a good leader with incredible character. God has blessed him and used him in mighty ways. God has brought him through storms. Like Job, he chooses to praise God and give Him all the glory. He continues to be challenged and stretched. Still he rises to the occasion. Reminds me of Matthew 25:14-29. I know it talks about "talents of money", but I believe it can also be applied to other areas of our lives, not just monetary.

One of my favorite quotes from Abraham Lincoln says, "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. " I find this to be so true. Power does not corrupt, but the "love" of power does. My Knight is the head of our family, he is a leader in his work place, he is a leader at our church, he's a leader in our community.

My prayer for my boys are that they grow up to be the men that God intends for them to be. That they be men after God's own heart. I pray they walk the straight and narrow road and not deviate. I hope they keep their eyes focused on Him who went before them. When they stumble and fall, that they learn their lesson and press on. My heart is full of hope for them. May they always know that they are not alone, that God is always with them. All they have to do is... follow in His steps...

Thursday Thirteen #19

2007-05-24T02:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Lisa asked a group of us to share 10 things that made us smile. I thought that would make a great TT list. Being that it's 5:36am, not much has happened today. So I will share 13 things that made me smile yesterday...

1- Thoughts of my Knight- he makes my heart skip beats.

2- Soaring Amongst The Clouds and her "isms"- she makes up her own words.

3- Still Waters and her logic- I kid you not, she's like Spock in Star Trek. She gets that from my Knight.

4- Daughter of the King's twinkling eyes- her eyes speak volumes.

5- The sound of my G.I. Joe's voice- he is 13 so his voice is sounding deeper, my baby is growing up.

6- My Warrior playing with his beanie babies- he had them sliding down the stair handrail.

7- Watching the Gypsy Kings video of the song, Volare- made me think of Abuela Caky. I remember her singing it once when I was younger.

8- Tuesday night, was the final of Dancing with the Stars. We are big fans of Apolo Anton Ohno. We taped it and watched Tuesday morning. I enjoy watching people dance. I also enjoy dancing. :o)

9- Tuesday night was the finale of The Bachelor- Officer and a Gentleman- the final rose. We taped it and watched it during lunch. The Bachelor picked the young lady we all wanted him to pick. :o)

10- My children are all outside practicing baseball/softball. Seeing them all working together, helping each other out fills my heart with joy.... how can I not smile at that?!

11- The thought that my Knight will be working out of our home tomorrow Friday. I love it when he's home.

12- I finally found a song that I've been looking for quite some time. I didn't know the name to it, but a jazz station played it. They happen to have a website and I was able to find the title. It's called, Europa- Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile by Gato Barbieri. If click on the name and scroll down, you can hear the song. :o) It was one of my favorite songs when I was a teenager. Now that I've found it, I'm going to order it. :o)

13- The thought that one day I'll be with my Lord and Savior.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Friday's Feast

2007-05-18T07:21:00.000-07:00

Appetizer
List 3 emotions you experienced this week.

* sadness- My friend's nephew died in a car accident. He was 19. Brought back memories of when my brother passed on, he was also 19.

* joy- My Warrior got a good hit off of the league's best pitcher- Big Al, he's 12. Not only that, but he got on base too. This is the second time he's done that. Oh... there is only one other player who's done that and he's 12. My Warrior is 10. :o)

* contentment- Spending time with my family, sitting, talking and laughing.

Soup
Name a car you’d love to have.

* Would a motorcycle count? I'd like to have a Gold Wing. Not for me to drive it, but for me to ride it with my Knight. IF that doesn't count, then I'd like to have an RV.

Salad
Describe your typical morning routine.

* I log on to my computer and read my online devotions. Get my emails and read the ones that are asking for prayers. I go see what my children are up to. Help with school work (we homeschool), if they need it. Start a load of laundry. Watch the news. Check to see if I have errands to do. By that time, it's lunch time. You see, I get up around 8-8:30a. My children let me sleep in. :o)

Main Course
Have you ever emailed someone famous? If so, who, and what did you say to them? Did they reply?

* We all know what famous is, or we think we know what it is. So I looked it up. Dictionary.com says: famous- 1) having widespread reputation, usually of a favorable nature; renowned; celebrated: a famous writer. 2) informal. first-rate; excellent: the singer gave a famous performance. 3) notorious (used pejoratively). Not only did I look up this word, but I looked up the other words in the description of this word and the description of the words those words too.

So, what is famous to me, might not be famous to some one else. With that said, my answer would have to be yes. I have emailed someone famous... my Knight. Yes, he did/does reply.

Dessert
Do you listen to podcasts? If so, which ones?

*Yes....

Y-hot

Y-rock

To partake in other feasts visit Friday's Feast a buffet for your brain.

Thursday Thirteen #18

2007-05-17T05:29:00.000-07:00

I'm blessed to have five children. My dream was to have a dozen. Ok, you can pick up you jaw from the floor or wipe your computer screen from what you just spewed on it. I've always wanted to have a large family. I was always thinking of what I would name them. I even bought a book of baby names when I was in 10th grade!

In my family blog, A Glance Into My World, I wrote an entry about how fascinated I am with names. I shared about what our names means and the story of how we came to be named. If you are interested in names you can go to Baby Names World and search for names.

On my TT #16 list, I wrote a list of girl names I liked. To be fair, I thought I'd share some boy names I've always liked.

* Joseph

* Daniel

* Giovanni

* Andre

* Andrew

* Manuel

* Alejandro (Alexander)

* Demetri (Demetrio)

* Caleb

* Michael (Michaelangelo)

* Anjelo

* Paolo (Gianpaolo)

* Giancarlo

I know, what can I say, I have something for Italian names. :o) Do you have a favorite male name? Care to share it? Is there a reason why you like it?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Friday's Feast

2007-05-11T07:13:00.000-07:00

Appetizer
Tell about a time when you had to be brave.

*I've had to be brave a few times. So lets see... oh, ok. In 2003 I was diagnosed with chiari malformation with a herniation of 12mm and hydrocephalus. Chiari malformation is a brain disorder. Basically it's a disorder which causes the brain to herniate down into the spinal canal. My herniation is 12mm. Hydrocephalus is a cerebrospinal fluid build up in the brain. This explained why I had been suffering with debilitating headaches all my life. I had to have two separate brain surgeries. The first one was to install a shunt, to help drain the cerebrospinal fluid. The second one was a decompression with duraplasty and a laminectomy of C1. Which means, they had to create a little more room to alleviate my brain. Their is no cure for chiari. This surgery is a last resort. Only done when there is a threat of symptoms getting worse. Having any kind of surgery is dangerous... specially when they put you under. I had a peace about both surgeries. I knew that a God was in control and whatever happened it was for the best. I hope that in the eyes of my five precious children I was a brave mom.

Soup
Which upcoming movie are you excited about seeing?

* Ah... that would have to be... Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End

Salad
Name an item you try to always have on hand.

* A card. You never know when you have to send someone an uplifting note. Oh, and coke. I'm a coke addict. Coca cola that is. :o)

Main Course
Imagine the most relaxing room you can think of. Now describe it!

* That would have to be my family room. It's the hub of our home. Our navy blue, soft, leather sectional couch sits 10. The two seats in the end recline. The couch is up against our 8 foot wide and 5 1/2 foot tall window. The window looks over our pool and 4 out of 5 of our acres. There is a door to the right of the window that opens up to the pool patio. We have a counter that separates our family room from the kitchen. The counter is filled with picture frames, which contain pictures of my family. The wall to the left of the window has a bookcase filled with movies we've collected through the years. On top of that bookcase, we have trophies our children have won. Up against the wall to the left of that is our pine wood, entertainment center. Which holds out tv, dvd and cd player. To the right of the center is where we store some of our cd's. To the left is where we store some more movies. On top of the entertainment center we have some more picture frames with pictures of my children and some more trophies. The wall to the left of the center has some more picture frames. One of the picture frames is a collage of pictures my children put together for me for Mother's Day last year. It's one of my favorites. The pictures are all in black in white. Across our blue couch we have a solid oak wood couch with clue cushions that were upholstered by Daughter of the King. It seats three people. On our couch you can always find a soft blanket or a throw. In front of our entertainment center I have a couple of baskets. Some hold my boy's school work. On holds 10 scrapbooking albums. Another basket holds some more cd's. The ceiling in our family room is high vault. We have a long white fan. When you look up you can see a wooden rail and the hallway upstairs. You can also see pictures hanging on the wall. They are drawings that we made by Still Waters. One picture frame has magazine that some pictures of Soaring Amongst The Cloud was featured in when she use to play soccer. The family room is my favorite room. It's were we all hang out.

Dessert
On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being highest), how spiritual or religious are you?

* Mmmm... I really don't consider myself as being spiritual or religious. I do have a personal relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ. On a scale of 1-10, how much I love Him, I would say 10. Do I always show it... no. But I strive to show Him every day.

To partake in other feasts visit Friday's Feast a buffet for your brain.

Thursday Thirteen #17

2007-05-10T11:42:00.000-07:00

In honor of Mother's Day, my list will be about what I've learned from the two most important women who raised me, my mom and my abuela. Now there are many things that I've learned from them, but since this is a Thursday Thirteen list, I have to limit my list.

* I remember my mom taking me and my sister up to the front window of our home. She would have us looking out the window right around the time my dad was expected to be home. When we spotted him, she would say (in Spanish), " Look who's walking up the side walk! IT'S the BEST DADDY in the WHOLE WORLD!" - I learned that a wife has the power to build up or tear down her husband... I learned to edify my husband.

* My abuela didn't learn to drive till she was a grandma. - I learned that you are never too old to try something new.

* While I was growing up, my abuela had two jobs. She worked as a housekeeper/nanny and she worked at the hospital as a unit secretary. She never complained. - I learned there is good that comes out of having good work ethics.

* My mom always had dinner ready when my dad got home from work. We always ate together. - I learned that having a routine is good for a family.

* My mom always enjoyed (and still enjoys) watching, I Love Lucy. Probably cause she was free spirited and spontaneous like Lucy. I remember many last minute, "let's go to the...." trips. -I learned that spontaneity brings balance.

* My mom had (has) a temper. At times she would punish me out of anger. -I learned that punishing out of anger is wrong.

* My mom was always telling my brother (in Spanish), that he should treat ladies like the petal of a rose. -I learned that we (men and women) matter... we are worthy.

* I am 43 years old. In my lifetime, I don't ever recall ever seeing a blemish on my mom's face. She rarely used make up. If she did, it was a little rouge on her cheeks and lips. -I learned that their is nothing like natural beauty. God fashioned us after His own image... why mess with it?!

* Abuela was a very kind, loving and giving lady. Even when she was treated unkind, she abided by the Golden Rule: do to others as you would have them do to you. There was a person that was interested in a family member. In the beginning this person treated her kindly. Once the person married into our family, this person wanted nothing to do with Abuela. This person wouldn't even acknowledge her. It hurt to see this, but she was still kind, loving and giving of her love and time. -I learned that love can overcome any obstacle.

* Abuela always wore soft, cotton batas. That's Spanish for house dresses. LOL! Her dresses were always made out of pretty, small flower prints. She didn't wear bright colors. They were always soft pastels. -I learned that it doesn't matter what's "in" , if you like it wear it. Oh, guess what's my favorite style dress... soft, cotton country dresses. I have over 12 of them hanging in my closet. :o)

* When my mom met my Knight. She said, that's the one you should marry. -I learned that parents do know best. Who else would have your best interest at heart?

* My mom and abuela always had a rocky relationship. They were (are) both strong willed, independent women, with big hearts. It was always best if things went their way for all those around. LOL! -I learned that I can't always have it my way. That it's not all about me.

* My mom doesn't tell me that she loves me. Words don't come easy to her. She does show me, in her own way, that she loves me. She'll call and tell me to be careful in the parking lots. That I should do my errands during the day. To be careful when it rains. Not to go out when it's too late, that the roads are too dark. She'll read articles to me over the phone. Tells me about radio segment she heard, regarding a health issue. When I had my two brain surgeries, she came to help take care of me. It's her way of saying, I love you. -I learned that actions speak louder than words, but it's good to hear the words too.

I love my mom. I love my abuela. They helped to shape me into the woman I am today. I owe them so much. I know that girls sometimes wince at the thought of being like their mom. There are things about my mom, that makes me think, "I don't want to be like my mom." BUT when I think back, there are many things about my mom, that I'm proud to think, "I'm just like my mom!"

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Friday's Feast

2007-05-04T06:32:00.001-07:00

Appetizer

Name something you would not want to own.

* At this present time, a Suburban. Gas prices are over the top. With all the running around I do, I would spend a fortune in gas. I do wish I had a mini van. I miss my van. It was totaled two yeas ago. I was sentimentally attached to it.

Soup
Describe your hair (texture, color, length, etc.).

*I have soft, thin, curly hair. It's dark brown with natural almond highlights. I have gray hair scattered throughout. It's about 5 inches past my shoulders.

Salad
Finish this sentence: I’ll never forget ___________.

* How even though I was surrounded by loved ones, I felt alone and empty when I was told my brother had died. How on the delivery table, right after I had delivered Souring Amongst The Clouds, I looked at my Knight and told him, "Let's have another one." Ten months later, Still Waters was born. ;o) How I always said, "I don't want to be thirty and pregnant." Guess what, on my 30th b-day, I was pregnant, with G.I. Joe, and The Warrior was born 2 1/2 years later. I have so many, "I'll never forget..." moments.

Main Course
Which famous person would you like to be for one day? Why?

* If only for one day... I would like to be Audrey Hepburn. I wrote an entry about Audrey Hepburn a while ago. She was what I envisioned a lady would be like. She always seemed soft, sweet, gentle, loving and kind. But always had this look of wistfulness. I would like to know what she was thinking and feeling. Not to mention that I thought she had an incredible sense of style. She was a great humanitarian. She was an extraordinary lady.

Dessert
Write one sentence about yourself that includes one thing that is true and another thing that is not.

* This should be fun. Which one do you think is true? I'll post the answer in a couple of days... 1- I enjoy reading but can't because it makes me dizzy. 2- I'm a morning person.

Thursday Thirteen #16

2007-05-02T15:49:00.000-07:00

In my family blog, A Glance Into My World, I wrote an entry about how fascinated I am with names. I shared about what our names means and the story of how we came to be named.

I thought I'd share some names my girls are thankful I didn't name them. I don't know why, because they are truly beautiful names. But I guess, when you are use to hearing your own name, any other name would not be the same...

* Penelope

* Anastasia

* Gabriella

* Samantha

* Mia

* Maiya

* Isabella

* Natasha

* Aphrodite

* Danielle

* Annabelle

* Guinevere

Share a name you like? Is there a story why you like it? Where did you hear that name?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen #15

2007-04-26T06:16:00.000-07:00

Being that this week was my Knight's 44th birthday, my list will be about him. I will share 13 memory moments. I'd love to share more, but there is plenty of time for that...

* We met in tenth grade, in our College Vocabulary class. He sat two seats in front of me, on the row to my right. He would tilt his head a little to the side to glance at me. Who could resist those baby blue eyes?

* While in high school, he was a DJ. Our first dance together was at a halloween party he invited me to. The song that was playing was, How Deep Is You Love by the Bee Gees. My favorite group. He was a gentleman, he didn't hold me too close. I felt safe in his arms.

* One day my mom drove by his night time job. He use to park cars at a restaurant. She started honking the horn and waving. I crouched down on the seat, so he wouldn't see me. I was so embarrassed!

* We were not a couple during high school. We only went out a few times. When I went back to my first boyfriend, I could see the sadness in eyes. I had hurt him. But what did I know. I was a young, immature girl, who didn't know she was letting go of the man she would someday marry.

* In 1981 (right out of high school) he joined the Army. When he came home on leave during Christmas, I went to greet him at the airport. Seeing him walking towards all who were there to see him, made my heart skip a beat. He looked so handsome in his uniform. Of all the people who were there, he greeted me first.

* The first movie we saw together was Cinderella. It was playing at the theater. After the movie we went for a stroll at the marina. That's where we kissed for the first time.

* We had over 500 guests at our wedding. We were so busy going from table to table, that we didn't get to eat. His eyes were sparkling that day.

* We were stationed in Ft. Polk, Louisiana the first ten months of our marriage. While living there, he hurt his leg playing football. I drove him home. He started to go into shock. I managed to convince him that going to the ER was a good idea. The doc was going to give him quarters for 24 hours and a prescription for motrin. Quarters is a term used when they mean no work. Yep, back then motrin was a prescription drug. I was adamant. I was not taking him until they x-rayed that leg. After MUCH insistence from a mere 93 lb., 19 year old wife, his leg was x-rayed. Oh, and yes, he had a nasty break. I will never forget how scared I was. I did not like to see my Knight in pain.

* Did you know that a motorcycle can be driven with a broken leg? Yep, he did it. Where there is a will there is a way. He was determined. He looked so daring on that red motorcycle with his broken leg propped up.

* While vacationing in Capri, Italy, he and his buddy Roarke decided to go rock climbing. It scared me to death to see where they had climbed. The reason it scared me was because they had climbed with not gear. He had this, "I did it" look. I had this, "You're killing me" look, but I was proud of him.

* On one of our ski trips to Austria, we went down this run that we thought was an intermediate run. Turned out to be a black diamond run. He felt confident that we could do it. He's such a thrill seeker, I was always scared that something would happen to him. So, whatever he would want to do, I'd do too. We didn't fall once. It was a great run. The grin on his face was priceless.

* When we were in the hospital waiting the arrival of our second baby, he was the one that took care of me. My water had broke and my bed was wet. He asked the nurse to please bring some of the blue padding so I would continue to feel wet. She told him, that is was senseless to do that, cause it was still going to get messy. He's the one that cleaned it up and made me comfortable.

* We went target shooting with our oldest two and a group of their friends. It was the first time they had gone shooting. Well, they have shot their brother's bb gun, but we all know it's not the same thing as shooting a real gun. Our girls were the best girl shooters. My Knight looked so proud.

We will soon celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss. Like everyone else, we've had our share of sad times, tragedies and good times. Going through all that together is what has helped us to be who we are today. No just who I am or who he is, but who we are as a couple. It's made us stronger and more devoted to one another.

My dearest Knight,
I'm so thankful that God created you. That he sat fit to bring us together. May God continue to bless our marriage.
forever yours...
Your Lady~

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

In Honor Of My Knight...

2007-04-24T14:06:00.001-07:00

My Knight and His Lady

My Knight's 44th birthday is today. There is so much I admire about my Knight in shining armor. In honor of his birthday, I will share "44" awesome things about him. For those that know him, know all this to be true. First I'll start with some of his character traits that I admire, then I'll move on to some tidbits about him. My Knight is...

* A Godly man- he seeks God daily and strives to be the man God wants him to be.

* Loving

* Tolerant- bless his heart, he's put up with me for almost 25 years!

* Honorable

* Dependable

* Chivalrous- yep, he still opens the door for me.

* Wise- I tell the truth, my man is seldom wrong and when he is, he is quick to acknowledge it.

* Trustworthy

* Honest

* Leader

* Faithful

* Hopeful

* Respectful

* Valiant

* Brave- he was an MP in the Army. He laid his life on the line daily.

* Loyal

* Encouraging

* Logical

* Intelligent

* Sincere

* Polite

* Reliable

* Responsible

* Observant

* Persevering

* Rational

* Positive

* Thankful

* Unselfish

* Mature

* Hard Working

* Helpful

* Competitive- he doesn't like to lose, but he's gracious when he does, he's a good sportsman.

* He knew in tenth grade, that I was the one he was going to marry.(More about this on a later post... so stay tuned.)

* Got his private pilot's license when while he was still in high school.

* Joined the Army at 18.

* Traveled all over Europe while stationed in Germany.

* Took up skiing and loves it.

* Worked full time and while attending college.

* He earned a 4 year degree in computer science in 3 years.

* He's a Promise Keeper.

* Loves to spend time with me and our five children.

* Has been working for the same company for over 18 years.

* Tells and shows me that he loves me EVERY day.

Thursday Thirteen #14

2007-04-19T07:03:00.000-07:00

This will seem a little ah... odd. But my list today is about what my perfect world would be like. It's mainly due to the melancholy mood I've been in lately. But that's alright, I know this too shall pass. :o) This is off the top of my head. There is lots more that I would add to my list, but since this is a TT list, I had to limit my list. In my perfect world...

* There would be unconditional love.

* The color of our skin would not matter.

* What we look like would not matter.

* There would be no physical, verbal or mental abuse.

* We would not be selfish.

* We would all greet each other with a hug.

* Time with family would be a high priority for all.

* We would respect one another.

* We would appreciate the here and now, not take it for granted.

* We would realize that hard work does pay off.

* We would be more open with one another and willing to share our experience to help others along.

* Babies would not be aborted. Who knows, maybe the babies that are being killed are the ones that will find a cure for aids, cancer, diabetes and other diseases.

* Everyone would abide by the Golden Rule: Do to others as you would have them do to you.

My perfect world does exist, it's just not here. It's called Heaven. One day He will welcome me with open arms. I hope to see you there too...

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

"Do" Even When You Don't Want To

2007-04-16T12:24:00.000-07:00

The harder it is for me to do something for him the more I want to do it. Why, because I love him. Do I do this all the time? No, but I try. Do I feel like this all the time? No, but my heart's desire it to want to be like that all the time.

If I left the things I do up to feelings, I probably wouldn't do it. Think about it. Who really "feels" like taking out the trash? Who really "feels" like filling up the gas tank? Who really "feels" like ironing or doing house chores? Who really "feels" like running errands? See what I mean? These are only the little everyday things. The same applies to the bigger things.

I think it all, like most things, comes down to choice. I chose to do because I love my Knight. Guess what, because he loves me, his heart's desire is to do for me too. Wow! Imagine that.

Without meaning to, I am a selfish creature. I don't like to think of myself this way, but it's true. I daily have to chose to die to self. By doing that, it frees me up to love others. Throughout God's Word we read, "Love your neighbor as yourself." I looked it up, it's quoted seven times. (Leviticus19:18 , Matthew 19:19, Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, Romans 13:9, Galatians 5:14 and James 2:8)

When I first became a Christian, I thought this scripture applied to my neighbors, friends or other people I come in contact with. Well yes, that's true. Then one day it dawned on me, "HELLO! Those I LIVE with ARE my neighbors!" They are my closest neighbors. Ah... it all made sense. These "neighbors" see the ugly in me and the not so ugly. I also see this in them. Which makes it all the harder. At the same time makes it all the sweeter.

In "doing" for others we are blessing them. Without realizing it, we get blessed in the process. I know I get this joyous, full feeling within me when I "do". There are times that I can't physically "do" but praying is certainly something I can "do" at any time.

So even when I don't want or feel like "doing", I remind myself, that it's not about me. It's all about Him who died for me. When I "do" for others, I'm "doing" for Him.

Thursday Thirteen #13

2007-04-11T17:11:00.000-07:00

My Abuela Caky (abuela is Spanish for grandma) was an extraordinary woman. She was kind, loving and giving. Not just of her time or love... she shared and gave what little she had. If you want to find out just what an awesome lady she was and how she came to be here... hop on over to A Glance Into My World.

Today for my TT list, are songs that are helping me grieve the passing of my Abuela Caky. I will share songs that will express how I'm feeling. Songs that God is using to comfort me. Songs that continue to give me hope and keep my faith strong. May they give you hope and strengthen your faith...

To read the lyrics, click on the title of the song. To hear part of the song click on the artist.

* Beauty From Pain by Superchick

* My Savior My God by Aaron Shust

* Praise You In The Storm by Casting Crowns

* For Such A Time As This by Wayne Watson

* Volare by Gypsy Kings

* Cry Out To Jesus by Third Day

* When I Get Where I'm Going by Brad Paisley & Dolly Parton

* Homesick by Mercy Me

* Whispers In The Dark by Skillet

* What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong

* Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World by Israel "Izzy" Kamakawiwo o'le

* Stained Glass Masquerade by Casting Crown

* This Is Your Life by Switchfoot

Beauty From Pain

2007-04-09T18:29:00.001-07:00

My heart is heavy. My spirit is light. I just can't bring myself to share right now. My Abuela Caky has gone to be with our Lord and Savior. My soul rejoices, but my heart weeps.

My Savior is comforting me. I know she is no longer in pain or suffering. She is in the presence of the Creator. Knowing that makes my pain tolerable. I hold on to the hope that one day we will be together again. I love you Abuela. You are missed, but you will live on in my memories.

Beauty From Pain
by Superchick

The lights go out all around me
One last candle to keep out the night
And then the darkness surrounds me
I know I'm alive
But I feel like I've died

And all that's left is to accept that it's over
My dreams ran like sand through the fists that I made
I try to keep warm but I just grow colder
I feel like I'm slipping away

After all this has passed
I still will remain
After I've cried my last
There'll be beauty from pain
Though it won't be today
Someday I'll hope again
And there'll be beauty from pain
You will bring beauty from my pain

My whole world is the pain inside me
The best I can do is just get through the day
When life before is only a memory
I wonder why God let me walk through this place

And though I can't understand why this happened
I know that I will when I look back someday
And see how You've brought beauty from ashes
And made me as gold purified through these flames

Here and I am at the end of me (at the end of me)
Trying to hold to what I can't see
I forgot how to hope
This night's been so long
I cling to your promise there will be a dawn

Friday Feast

2007-04-06T03:38:00.000-07:00

{Featured Flickr Feast by Pastor Rob}

Appetizer
When you travel, which mode of transportation do you prefer?

I enjoy traveling by plane and RV's. Being that we are a family of seven, RV'ing is the best and most affordable way for us to travel. We've had some great vacations. We've been able to travel all over the South all the way up to Canada. My Knight and I, thanks to the military, were able to travel all over Europe. :o)

Soup
Have you ever met a blogging friend in person?

No. There are many that I would like to meet.

Salad
When was the last time you were really, really tired?

I have chiari malformation 2 with a 12mm herniation & hydrocephalus. I also have lupus & fibromyalgia. With these bag of goodies, I tire easily. BUT, I don't let it get me down. I've learned to pace myself. Key words are... rest often.

Main Course
If you could have dinner with any one fictional character from a book or movie, who would it be?

Forrest Gump. I would love to hear his other stories.

Dessert
Fill in the blank: One day, I hope to see _______________.

...my loved ones saved. The thought of being eternally separated is too painful.

Thursday Thirteen #12

2007-04-05T04:36:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, we went to the MacDill Air Force Base Airfest 2007. Our main goal was to see the Blue Angels. We got to see the Blue Angels and much more. We took over 400 pictures! AND we got to video tape too. I was a happy camper. :o) Oh and guess what it was all free!

I have more and better pictures on my family blog. Feel free to check it out at: A Glance Into My World. Should the Blue Angels ever come your way... go see them. you'll be in for a treat.

Today I'll be sharing 13 pictures we took at the Airfest...

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Not My Will But His

2007-04-01T20:14:00.000-07:00

Since he was a young Squire, my Knight had always dreamed of being a pilot. Flying planes was all he ever thought of. Well, that and girls. LOL! Come on he was a boy after all. :o)

Our school was pretty big. It offered lots of different types of classes that other schools didn't offer. One of the classes was an aviation class. He got his private pilot license while in high school. He had a goal. He wanted to go to Annapolis. He wanted to serve his country and fly jets. That was his dream. Annapolis accepted him. He was well on his way. Until a a more extensive eye exam showed he was color deficient. He is not color blind, that's a different problem. His deficiency was not bad enough to prevent him from getting his private pilots license. But bad enough not to be able to fly commercial or for the military. His dreams were chattered.

God had other plans for him. Something beyond his wildest dreams. You see had he gone on to Annapolis, he would of had to be in the a academy for 4 years. While in the academy, the cadets can not be married. Once you graduate from the academy you are an officer. You have to serve a minimum of 6 years in active duty. Oh, after you graduate, they can get married.

He decided to join the Army. While in basic training my Knight and I started courting... via letters. Back in 1981, email wasn't around and neither were cell phones. Ooops, I almost started to chase the rabbit again. Sorry about that. Let me get back on track.

Had he gone away to Annapolis, we wouldn't have been able to get married in the summer of 1982. There are many questions I wonder about. Would we have set up our first home in Ft. Polk, Louisiana? Would we have met Don, who impacted our lives that can only be described as, "seeing Christ light shine through him"? He walked the walk and talked the talk. Would we have been able to live in Germany? Would we have traveled all around Europe? Would we have made the life long friends we made? Would we have settled in this Sunny place? Would my Knight have become a software engineer? Would we have been blessed with our five precious children? Would he be working for the wonderful company he works for? Would he love his job like he loves his job now? Would we be living in the country? Would we have accepted Christ into our lives when we did? So many "would we have...".

My Knight is not one to dwell on "what if" or " why". He's all about choosing to move on... to persevere. I love his attitude. His "can do" way of being. His "you can do it" way of thinking.

Today we spent the day at the MacDill Air Force Base Airfest 2007. Our main goal was to see the Blue Angels. We got to see way more than the Blue Angels. They had all types of different kind of airplanes, helicopters and machinery. Not only were they there for us to see, but we could go "in" them. We got to talk to different soldiers regarding the different things we saw. It was an eventful day. We all had a "beyond" wonderful time. The maneuvers we saw the pilots do with their airplanes will forever be embedded in our minds. We even got to see paratroopers. They all put on a spectacular show.

I was in awe by everything I saw. Most of all, I was in awe of my Knight. I had thought that maybe going to see the show would make him think of what could of been. I was wrong. He loved every minute of it. He loved being there with his children and his Lady. Showing us all, all the different planes and telling us all about them. He's so wise and knowledgeable. I couldn't help but look and admire him. He was watching others live out their dreams. While he is living the dream, he never dreamed possible... following God's will for his life.

Respect Your Husband Like a VIP

2007-03-30T13:07:00.000-07:00

Catchy title huh? Well, I'm not that creative. I'm on the Family Life emailing list. Today's email had a couple of great articles in them. I'll focus on one today. It's called, Woman to Woman: Respect You Husband Like a VIP.

My Knight and I have a great relationship. I'm truly blessed. Neither of us are perfect... well no one is, but we all strive to be better. That's what we are called to do. I want to be the woman God wants me to be. I want to be the wife, I was created to be for my Knight.

We got married in June of 1982. I was one week shy of being 19. Two months earlier he had turned 19. We were so young. I remember hearing how a couple has to give 100% to make it work... 50% from each spouse. Some of the articles I read and advice I got said, everything should be 50/50, like cooking or house chores. You do this and I'll do that. The problem with this way of thinking is that it leads to selfishness among other things. "Well, I did it the last time, it's your turn to do it this time."

I do things because love my Knight. I want to make his life easier, less stressful. I want to please, honor and keep him happy. God created Adam and saw that it was not good for man to be alone. He later created Eve out of Adam's rib. She was created to be his help meet (adjective).

* A little rabbit chasing: Alright, I can hear it now, but Eve sinned. She led Adam astray. Yep, she caved into temptation and so did he. We are all sinners. But that doesn't mean we can keep sinning. We have a choice. Daily, I chose to please my Lord and Savior, by obeying God and following His will for me. By doing that, I'm striving to be the best me possible. Which means, I try to be the best wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend.... I can be. Oh yeah, I in no way, shape or form can do it on my own. Self keeps popping her head in. Trying to wreck havoc. BUT!... Daily I strive to die to self.

Ok, back from chasing the rabbit. Society sees that as being a "floor mat", weak, slave and other demeaning things. Personally, I don't think of it like that. I feel great when I please my Knight. It pleases me to please him. It makes me happy to see he is happy. When I'm busy thinking about what to do to help him, it makes my life easier. How, because I'm not busy or dwelling on "me".

I often wonder why some women treat their friends better than they treat their husbands. Some are so eager to please their friends and do stuff for them. Yet when it comes to their spouse, it's different. Why?

My Knight is my best friend, my soul mate. He completes me. I can't imagine my life without him. Will I cease to exist once God calls him? No, my prayer is that I go before he does. LOL! Ok, all joking aside. No, I will be here. I will continue to strive to be the best me possible. Not just because of him, my children or anyone else. But because it's what God has called me to be.

So for now, I will continue to do the little things and yes, the big things too. Not only because I have to, but because I want to. It's all in my attitude. It all boils down to choice. I chose to be happy. To do. To love.

Friday's Feast

2007-03-30T07:42:00.000-07:00

Appetizer
What are you proud of?
My family: My Knight and I will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this summer. He's an awesome godly man. We are blessed with five wonderful children, who strive to please the Lord. Can't take the credit for it, God has blessed us.

Soup
What is the best thing you’ve ever won as a prize?
Love & trust. When one has been hurt, a wall is built around them. It's hard for them to love or trust again. If you persevere and break the wall down, you both win.

Salad
Name something you do that is a waste of time.
I spend wayyyyyyy too much time on my computer.

Main Course
In what year of your life did you change the most?
When I was 28, I gave my life to Christ. I thought I had such a wonderful life. I never thought it could get any better. I was wrong... I've been blessed beyond measure.

Dessert
Where is a place you consider to be very tranquil?
In my Knight's arms.

Thursday Thirteen #11

2007-03-29T07:11:00.000-07:00

I usually have my TT list thought up ahead of time. This has been such a busy week, that I'm ill prepared. So off the top of my head... ummmmm... Thirteen of my favorite love story movies.

* Romeo & Juliet (1968) starring Leonard Whiting & Oliva Hussey. Sad to think they were forbidden to love one another only because of their family feud. Love conquers all. In the end, it brought these two families together by tragedy.

* Sabrina (1954 & 1995) 1954- starring Humphrey Bogart & Audrey Hepburn, 1995- starring Harrison Ford & Julia Ormond. I like both versions. Audrey Hepburn is one of my favorite actresses. Fairytale story about the servants daughter falling in love with the employer's son. As the saying in our home goes, "It can happen."

* Sleeping Beauty (1959)- Disney Animation. Love it when the Prince fights all odds to rescue his Princess.

* A Walk in the Clouds (1995) starring Keanu Reeves & Aitana Sanchez-Gijon. To think that a total stranger would help an expectant your lady, by pretending to be her husband. How romantic is that. Don't me wrong, I don't condone lying.

* The Princess Bride (1987) starring Cary Elwes & Robin Wright Penn. Nothing but true love here. You've got to watch it to know what I mean.

* Cold Mountain (2003) starring Jude Law & Nicole Kidman. I don't understand why Hollywood feels that nudity is needed in a movie. I skipped the nude scenes. I love the way Inman continues to endure trials after trials, while trying to get back to his Ada. A young lady he barely knew, but loved deeply.

* The Notebook (2004) starring Ryan Gosling & Rachel McAdams. This movie made me want to read the book. Needless to say, I read the book while keeping a tissue box within reach.

* Pride and Prejudice (1995 & 2005) 1995-starring Colin Firth & Jennifer Ehle, 2005- starring Matthew Macfadyen & Keira Knightley. Both versions are great. I love the Georgian era, their dresses and customs. The women were ladies and the men were gentlemen. Ahhhh....

* Last of the Mohicans (1992) starring Daniel Day-Lewis & Madeleine Stowe. I've watched this movie the most. This has three love stories in one. A father's love for his sons. His son's love for their women. Their women are taken and nothings stops them from finding their love. I cry EVERY time I watch this movie. The book is a must read too!

* Lord of the Rings -the trilogy (2001, 2002 & 2003) starring Viggo Mortensen & Liv Tyler. These movies have an outstanding cast. Yes, these are long movies, but absolutely worth watching. The chivalry, gallantry, heroism in this movie is idealistic.

* Sommersby (1993)- starring Richard Gere & Jodi Foster. Jack Sommersby returns from the civil war. He's a changed man or is he? One of my favorite lines from this movie is, "You are not my husband." It has a special meaning between my Knight and I.

* Imitation of Life (1959) starring Lana Turner & John Gavin. This is not the usual love story of a man and woman. This one is about the love of a mother for her daughter. Juanita Moore is the true star of this movie.

* The Passion of the Christ (2004) starring James Caviezel. This for me is the GREATEST love story ever. Love is and action. He willingly gave up His life for us.

It's difficult to limit it to just thirteen. There are so many that I like to watch, over and over and over and... again.

Which movies are your favorites?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Friday Feast

2007-03-23T06:28:00.000-07:00

Appetizer

Who is your favorite news anchor/reporter? Why?

*I know this will sound a little ah... strange because he's not on tv or the radio... my favorite news reporter would be my Knight.

*I don't really watch too much news. I think the media doesn't give accurate reports. My Knight always keeps me up to date on what's going on. He "digs" for what's really going on. Plus, I like the sound of his voice and he's a pleasure to watch. ;o)

Soup

Name 3 foods that are currently in your freezer.

* 8 think cut sirloin steaks Mmmm... I'm a steak and potato kinda of gal.
* couple of bags of frozen chicken breast- Yuck, I'm not a chicken lover, but my family is.
* some shrimp- Yuck again! I'm not a seafood lover either.

Salad

If you were to have the opportunity to name a new town or city, what would you call it?

* Well, I would name is Love. You can't help but feel good about living in a town or city called Love. :o)

Main Course

What will most likely be the next book you read?

* Love & Respect by Dr, Emerson Eggerichs

Dessert

What's the first thing you notice about the opposite gender?

* Their eyes. Eyes don't lie.

Thursday Thirteen #10

2007-03-22T06:57:00.000-07:00

There is much that I have learned. Most importantly, I have learned that I have much to learn.

* Hugs and kisses give much comfort.

* Crying does help.

* I am very blessed.

* Writing things down on paper to help me remember, won't work if I don't remember where I put the paper.

* Life is too short, be a blessing to someone... every day.

* It's never as bad as I think... it could be worse... be thankful.

* Not to walk barefooted in our home, unless of course you don't mind the feeling of a little sand. Living in the country and being a family that plays all types of sports, it can't be helped to have some sand on the floor. Well it can, but I'm not about to sweep 24/7.

* Smiles and kindness are contagious... spread it.

* Unless I want to clean up Nicodemus's (our golden retriever) drool (YUCK!!!), I better let him out before I take the peanut butter out of our pantry. He LOVES the stuff!

* A rainbow ALWAYS follows a storm. Not just weather wise, but in life too.

* I'm not confused, I'm just well mixed.

* God loves me unconditionally... He loves you too!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

My Blogs

2007-03-20T10:42:00.000-07:00

I keep three different blogs. One is set on private. I journal about our family in detail. It's more of an online scrapbook. I seem not to have enough time to keep up with my scrapbooking. Since I take digital pictures, it's easier to "scrapbook" online.

My second blog is A Glance Into My World. This one is open for others to see, not just friends and family. I have nicknamed those that I write about for security reasons. One never knows who's reading it. The reason I keep this one open is because I feel it might help others in one way or another. The media is full of sad stories. We need to hear about the good there is too. I share quotes, scriptures, stories, ideas, recipes and my thoughts. I also share tips that have helped me through the years. I share anything that I feel God prompting me to share so it might helps others.

My third blog is this one, A Knight's Lady. I named it that because that's exactly how I feel. My Babe is my Knight in shining armor. I have always seen him this way. Even while we were courting I would call him my Knight. He has always called me his Lady. Well, our wedding song was Lady by Kenny Rogers. This blog is mostly about me, my thoughts. I focus more on my relationship with my Babe, my Knight. I see more and more women losing respect for their husbands. They focus on the negative instead of focusing on the positive. I thought this would be a good way to share my testimony of how things can be different with your beloved spouse.

Friday's Feast

2007-03-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

Appetizer
Name two things that made you smile this week.

* My dad telling me he loves me. He lives 5 hours away, but thanks to modern technology (& cingular) I get to talk to him every day. Sometimes even a couple times a day. He ALWAYS tells me he loves me. But this time is was even more special. He was just released from the hospital. He had been having chest pains. I was not able to go see him. It felt good to hear him say those words to me.

* I was looking through some pictures and found some of my brother when he was younger. It made me smile to see that my G.I. Joe looks so much like his uncle, my brother. Toots would of liked that.

Soup
Fill in the blank: Don't you hate it when ________?

* ... you are looking forward to cooking something and then realize you are missing an ingredient. An ingredient that can't be substituted or your dish won't taste the same without this one item.

Salad
When you can't go to sleep, what is your personal remedy to help yourself drift into Lullabyland?

* Prayer. I pray for those I love, those in need and I go through my "thankful" list.

Main Course
What is something about which you've always wondered but have not yet found a good answer?

* How or why certain smells trigger memories.

Dessert
What is your favorite pasta dish?

* My mouth waters at the thought of lasagna. Mmmmm...

Thursday Thirteen #9

2007-03-15T10:13:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, March 17th, 1990 @ 12 midnight, will mark the 17 th anniversary of my brother's passing. I'd like to share some things about him. He was such a special young man, who knew how to have fun, enjoy life and bring joy to others.

Toot's I miss and love you so much. You are always in my thoughts.

* Manuel was born on Sunday, May 10, 1970. It was Mother's Day. Boy did we celebrated. My dad took my sister and I, to our favorite Italian restaurant. We had our first sip of red wine and toasted my brother's birth.

* He was an answered prayer to my sister and I. We had prayed for years for a baby brother. We loved him so much.

* I was the oldest of three. I was seven and my sister was six when he was born. So we were old enough to really help out.

* I loved to hold him and give him his bottle. We bonded instantly.

* He wore these little cute, baby blue terry cloth training pants. He couldn't say blue briefs (in Spanish) so he would call them, "cuthuthy lul" (calzonsillo- briefs, azul- blue)". You gotta know Spanish to understand. LOL!

* Our home was spacious enough that he was allowed to ride his tricycle inside. While riding his tricycle, he loved to pretend he was a police officer. He would "scribble" us tickets for made up infractions. He didn't know how to write yet. He would even wear my dad's white motorcycle helmet. He really looked the part.

* He was the baby of the family, but he was very protective of his sisters. When my Knight came courting, he would come and sit between us. To insure that "nothing" was going on. :o) It never bothered me. I knew he cared for me. Praise the Lord my Knight was just as understanding.

* He was twelve when I got married. As I was getting into the car, he hugged me, kissed me and told me, " I love you so much. I'm going to miss you." He was the last one I saw as our car was pulling away from the reception. He was crying. My Knight was in the Army and stationed in Louisiana. So I was moving away.

* When he was in high school he worked as a lifeguard. He saved a little boy from drowning.

* Girls loved him and guys wanted to be like him. I'm not saying that cause he was my brother, but he had a way about him. He was charming, easy going & friendly. People were automatically drawn to him. He had a smile that would knock your socks off. His eyes twinkled mischievously. He was handsome and he knew it, but it never went to his head. He had a big heart. He was kind, loving and tender hearted. What a combination.

* He was very athletic. He lettered in baseball, football and wrestling. He loved being a Police Explorer. He loved life and lived to the fullest.

* He was thrilled when we had our first, second and third baby girl. He would call them, "my girls". As soon as I went into labor with them, he and my sister would hop in the car and drive 5 hours to come and welcome their niece. He was not able to be here for our third baby girl's birth. He was in the Army by then. He was in the 82nd Airborne Division. His goal was to be a RANGER. He was well on his way.

* He called me two hours before the car accident. His last words to me were, "Remember that I love you and take good care of my girls."

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen #8

2007-03-08T08:43:00.000-08:00

My list of thirteen reasons why March is a bittersweet month for me.

* My brother passed away on Friday, March 17th, 1990 at 12 midnight. He was in the 82nd Airborne Division stationed in North Carolina. On his way back to the barracks his friend lost control of the car and hit a tree. My brother died at the scene.

* The Army Chaplain visited my parents on Saturday two different times, but my parents weren't home. As is custom, no message was left. I'm thankful for that. It's better to have the news told in person.

* The Army Chaplain visited my parents, early Sunday morning. Which means it was 2 days before we knew my brother has passed away. It wasn't any one's fault. But the thought that we were going on with our lives not knowing that my brother had passed away, was painful.

* It felt like it took forever for his body to be released to us. Looking back now, I know it was all standard procedure.

* It took one week for us to receive his body.

* Being that he was "government property", he came with orders stating that his casket couldn't be opened. We had to go through hoops in order to "see" him. My mom wanted to make sure that it "was" brother. We were hopeful that this was a mistake.

* He was 19 and loved by all. Over 20 of his Army buddies flew down to Florida for his funeral. The funeral director said that he had never seen so many come and pay respect as they had for my brother. He had to open two adjoining rooms. My brother was well loved.

* He was buried on Friday, March 23.

* We got to hear others share wonderful stories about my brother.

* He got to see a picture of my third daughter, Daughter of the King, but he never got to hold her. He was thrilled that we had had another little girl.

* G.I. Joe was born on March 9, 1994. He was an answered prayer to our three little girls. They prayed day and night for a baby brother.

* Papa (my nephew) was born on March 25, 1996.

* Mr. Sheriff (my oldest nephew) was born on March 29, 1976. He holds a special place in my heart. First time I met him he was 6. He and I were sitting on his grandparents front steps looking at a magazine. I pointed out a picture of a beautiful girl. He looked up at me and told me, "You are the most beautiful girl I ever seen." Now tell me, does that not just melt your heart?!
This happened back in December 1981.

Thankful Thursday

2007-03-08T07:58:00.000-08:00

"in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
-1 Thessalonians 5:18

I will limit my "thankful" list to 10, but I have so much to be thankful for...

* my salvation

* my Knight

* my children

* scented candles

* hand cream

* kisses & hugs -you can't have one without the other

* music & dancing

* smiling faces

* twinkling eyes

* laughter

* God's grace and mercy

Because of...

2007-03-05T09:18:00.001-08:00

Because of Jesus:
"I am never down, I am either up or getting up."

Thursday Thirteen #7

2007-03-01T07:03:00.000-08:00

Love is a verb...

Ok, I know that we are not in February anymore , but we are only one day into March. So, I decided, why not share one last love list. Cause love is something we need to show all the time.

Love is a verb. We can't say it enough. Love must not only be spoken, but must also be shown.
My list of thirteen will consist of ways I show my Knight I love him...

* I pray for him. EVERY day, I pray for him. Praying doesn't just mean that I sit down and just pray. I pray for him throughout my day. The thought of my Knight comes to mind and I say a little prayer for him. When I start off my day, I do pray that the Lord bless him with wisdom, knowledge and good health. That He help my Knight to be the godly man He (God) wants him to be. I pray other things for him too, but this is at the top of my list for him.

* I keep our castle a home. Our home is packed with love. When he walks in through the door, he is greeted with hugs and kisses. This is no lie. Not just mine, but our children. I'm sad to say that no matter how hard I try, I can never beat our Nicodemus to the door. His K-9 ears are better than mine.

* Wind-down time. When my Knight gets home from work, he is tired. Not just physically, but mentally. He's a software engineer. He is always solving problems. After hugs and kisses, we give him space to chill out. We don't attack him with what's going on with us. There's is plenty of time for that, unless it's an emergency of course. :o)

* Clothes are laundered and ready. He has never run out of clean clothes to wear. Being that we are a family of seven. Laundry is done EVERY day. Not only is it washed and dried, it is folded and put away. I can't take the credit for this, all our children help.

* Keeping him healthy. I'm sorry to say that I'm a junk food junkie. But I want my Knight around for a LONG time. His dad and all his uncles died of coronary disease. We take care to cook and have food that is good for him. Well, for my children too. :o)

* Get his things ready. He is a very involved dad. Our boys play baseball and our girls play softball. He helps coach our oldest son's Junior baseball team and our youngest son's Major baseball team. Oh, on top of that, he is the Little League president. I make sure that when he heads out the door, he's got ice water, snacks and whatever else he needs. It's not that he's not capable of getting his own stuff. It's just that I desire to help him.

* Keep in budget. We are a one income, homeschooling family of seven. Staying within the budget is hard for me. I know how hard my Knight works to provide for us. The least I can do is not give him added pressures. So I "try" very hard to be a good steward. I do fall short. I'm not perfect, nobody is. My Knight realizes this. :o)

* Good steward. I'm always on the look out for a good buy. Something that is cheap doesn't mean it's a good buy. You get what you pay for. He never shops for himself. I get the pleasure of shopping for him. I know his taste and he trusts me. I'm so blessed.

* Read. I read books that give me ideas of how to be a better wife and mom. I just finished reading two books: The Fruit Of Her Hands by Nancy Wilson.
and The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace. Oh, I've read The Excellent Wife before, but it was years ago. Right now I'm reading, Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. Of course the best book I've EVER read about being a better wife and mom is the Bible.

10* Calls, emails and letters. Little League keeps him pretty busy. He keeps me up to date on all that is going on. Which means, I'm able to help with the phone calls he gets. That allows him not to be tied down to the phone as much. The callers are happy to have been helped. I often call him just so I can hear his voice. I tell him I love him and that I was thinking about him. I send him emails that only he and I would know what we are talking about. I send him cards of ALL sizes. I write messages on paper and hide them in his pockets, wallet or palm pilot. I write messages on our bathroom mirror. He never knows when he's getting one.

* Trash day. Yes, everyone hates trash day. But I have to honestly tell you that I love it. It give me a chance to do something for my Knight. I don't know why, but men are usually the ones that end up taking the trash out. He is so thankful when he gets home and sees that he doesn't have to do that, cause we have already done it. It's one less thing for him to do.

* Balance. He is the logical, straight and narrow one. I am the free spirited, fun loving, predictably unpredictable one. Well, that's what I'm told. God saw fit to bring us together. We bring balance to each other's lives.

* Want & need. Everyone wants to be wanted and needed. I make sure my Knight knows that I WANT and NEED him. I mean this in every sense of the words. Not a day goes by that I don't tell or show him that I love him. Why do I do all this? Because I love him.

What do you do for the one you love?

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

100 Things About Me...

2007-02-27T15:10:00.000-08:00

I've seen many "99 things about me" our there. I don't like odd numbers. So I thought well, I'll do an even 100. Hope I don't bore you.

1~ I'm a child of God.

2~ My childhood dream was to get married by 18 and have many children.

3~ I got married one week before I turned 19.

4~ I'm blessed with 5 wonderful children.

5~ I homeschool my children. Well, two graduated last summer, so I now homeschool three of them.

6~ I married a man that surpassed my "dreams".

7~ Happily married.

8~ I'll be celebrating 25 years of wedded bliss this summer.

9~ My Knight and my children are my passion.

10~ I was an Army child. I don't like the term "brat".

11~ I was an Army wife.

12~ I love to travel.

13~ I've been blessed to have traveled to: Florida, Louisiana,Georgia, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, All over Germany, Italy, Paris, Austria, Luxembourg & Spain.

14~ My favorite foreign country to visit was Italy and Austria.

15~ I learned to speak enough German to get me into trouble. Well, shopping trouble that is. LOL!

16~ I speak Spanish.

17~ I am Cuban, Panamanian & Spanish blooded.

18~ Italian and Cuban food are my favorites.

19~Hopeful romantic

20~ Pink and blue are my favorite colors.

21~ I'm a Coke-aholic. By that I mean Coca-Cola. :o)

22~ I usually skip breakfast and lunch.

23~ I LOVE junk food.

24~ Favorite candy bars are butterfingers, mounds and joy.

25~ My favorite fruits are strawberries and mangoes.

26~ My favorite number is 26.

27~ Favorite cookies are: Soaring Amongst The Clouds' Oatmeal raisin cookies and Daughter of the King's Chocolate Chip cookies.

28~ I like apple pie & key lime pie the best.

29~ Cheesecake and chocolate cake are my favorite cakes.

30~ I own 12 pairs of overalls and yes, I do wear them.

31~ I love my crocs.

32~ I spend most of my day in my pj's.

33~ I have pretty pj's. :o)

34~ I don't get dressed until I know I'm going out.

35~ I mostly wear jeans and t-shirts.

36~ My favorite t-shirts are the Life is good ones. Turns out someone is making MILLIONS on my motto. Good for them.

37~ When it comes to music I'm eclectic. I love everything from classical, hip hop, blues, jazz, country... you get the point.

38~ I don't listen to music with curse words.

39~ I'm always cold.

40~ I don't wear make-up.

41~ Hated my curly hair up until I was 30. Now, I'm thankful for my curly hair. Much easier to take care of.

42~ I love quilts and fleece blankets.

43~ Love to read.

44~ I really do read my bible.

45~ Enjoy meeting people.

46~ At times, I'm quiet and tend to be a hermit.

47~ Ran track in high school. Didn't have stamina, but I had speed. I was a short distance runner.

48~ Love to snow ski.

49~ Tore my knee up while playing softball. But played for three weeks before I saw a doc.

50~ Enjoyed playing all types of different sports. Until...

51~ I've had two brain surgeries. I can no longer play sports. :o(

52~ Love to take pictures.

53~ Enjoy scrapbooking.

54~ Love to journal.

55~ I'm hooked on Sudoku.

56~ Recently started to use reading glasses.

57~ I love words.

58~ I love to buy pretty paper. Not just stationeries, but wrapping paper and tissue papers too.

59~ I collect pins, baskets, materials, board games (specially Monopoly games), playing cards and things with our American flag on it.

60~ I enjoy watching tv.

61~ I "own" the remote. :o)

62~ Love action movies.

63~ I don't watch horror flicks.

64~ Love romantic movies.

65~ I might see a comedy, it all depends on who's in it.

66~ I'm computer naive. But my Knight is computer wiz, so he helps me navigate along.

67~ My motto is, "Life is good". I say it all the time.

68~ My favorite word right now is... PHENOMENAL!

69~ I love to get quotes from movies, songs or poems and use them.

70~ I collect backpacks and bags. Guess you could call me a "bag lady".

71~ My favorite purses are Vera Bradley's . They are expensive, but you get what you pay for. I usually purchase them on ebay.

72~ I love looking at sunsets. Not sunrises, I'm not up that early.

73~ I LOVE my full motion waterbed.

74~ I sleep with three pillows. One on my head, one under my knees and a little one on my left side.

75~ I enjoy giving hugs.

76~ I love flowers... all kinds.

77~ If I see a pretty pen, I buy it.

78~ If I see something that I think someone I know would like, I buy it.

79~ I buy gifts ahead of time.

80~ I have a stash box for "just in case" gift giving.

81~ I'm compulsive about keeping my whites, white. I don't mind if it gets dirty, but I make sure when it comes out of the washer it's white again. I oxyclean and scrub till it's white.

82~ I took 5 years of piano lessons and can't remember one song.

83~ I love to have fun.

84~ Love to laugh.

85~ I love to spend time with my family.

86~ I also enjoy spending time alone.

87~ I met my ain true love when I was in first grade.

88~ I'm 5' tall.

89~ My Knight tells me I have almond shaped brown eyes. I love the way he says that.

90~ I don't take showers... I take baths. (hee hee hee) got ya...

91~ I'm not superstitious. Even though I was raised with those beliefs.

92~ I enjoy complimenting people. I love to see their faces light up.

93~ I'm a Sunday School teacher. Well, I don't really teach, I help. I'm more like the "rabbit chaser".

94~ I'm completely and politically incorrect.

95~ I like it when it rains.

96~ I enjoy to sleep.

97~ I love motorcycles. But my children aren't allowed to get one until I die. :o) It's a mama thing.

98~ I LOVE my Knight!

99~ I LOVE my children!

100~ I LOVE my Lord~

WOW! That was hard to do. I don't usually think about things about myself. This list was about me. But not about what I'd like or think. I might share that later on, maybe not. There sure are a lot of "I" on the list. Right now I'm feeling a little boastful. Don't like this feeling. I thought it would be fun, but I now feel like I have to have some humble pie...

In Support Of Our Commander In Chief, President Bush

2007-02-22T07:06:00.000-08:00

I was disheartened to hear that the congressman I voted for had decided not support our President. During his campaigning, he had spoken about supporting the President. The issues he was in support of and against seemed to line up with mine. Now I'm wondering if he's a man of his word.

Below is a letter my Knight wrote to our congressman. You can visit his blog, More To It Than This and read other entries. Feel free to leave him a comment.

"Dear Congressman Keller,

I am extremely disappointed in your speech on the Iraq Resolution and your
decision to not support the Commander In Chief, President Bush. As a veteran of
the U.S. Army this issue hits close to home for me. As your constituent I feel
that you are not representing my views, and more importantly the views of the
majority of your constituents in your home district. Our country is at war and
this resolution is divisive and inaccurate in its premise and its effect. A
house divided cannot stand. Our house, "our country", must be united and its
resolve unwavering in its quest to attain victory in the war in Iraq and the
greater war on terror. Even if the Iraqis are unwilling to defeat the insurgents
and terrorists in their own country we must prevail so as not to embolden our
enemy and leave them a fertile breeding ground for future attacks against
ourselves and our allies. I believe the President is on the right track by
increasing the number of troops on the ground in Iraq. I believe t
hat we started to decrease our forces too quickly due to an unrealistic
expectation created by political pressure from the democratic leadership which
you now appear to be aligning yourself with.

I urge you to reconsider and to properly represent your constituents. Vote in
support of our President and the Commander In Chief of our troops. That is the
most effective way of supporting our troops and helping them succeed in their
mission."

Thursday Thirteen #6

2007-02-22T02:49:00.001-08:00

Being that it's still "LOVE" month, I'll continue with the love theme. :o)

Thirteen things I love about my family...

My Knight... is my ain true love. We'll be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this summer.
* The way his blue eyes twinkle when he's about to do something mischievous. Makes me feel special cause no one else sees this side of him.
* I love how he holds me close and we sway across our family room floor while our children look at us, smiling while saying, " Ah, argh... children are present!"

Soaring Amongst The Clouds... will be 20 this year. She's my first Baby Girl.
* She has her own language which around here we call "isms". She never fails to make me laugh.
* She's a romantic at heart, just like her mama. She is my chic-flick movie partner. Our favorite movie to watch together is, Last of the Mohicans. :o)

Still Waters... will be 19 this year. She's my second Baby Girl.
* She's got quick, logical humor. She floors me. Leaves me bewildered with her remarks.
* Her thoughts are deep. She is always stumping me with her questions. So deep that I tell her, "Well Baby Girl, it just is." We laugh about it and we go in search of the answer... we go ask my Babe. LOL! I love to hear her speak, cause she thinks so different than I do. She helps me to see things in a different light.

Daughter of the King... just celebrated her 17th birthday. She's my third Baby Girl.
* She's got the heart of a servant. Always willing to help without being asked. Just yesterday, I was busy running the boys to baseball practice. Dad had worked all night and had to attend an evening meeting. He need two shirts ironed for the next two days. She ironed them.
* She's got a smile that lights up the room. People just gravitate to her.

GI Joe... will be 13 in two weeks. He is my first Baby Boy.
* He's so easy going that it makes those around him feel at ease.
* He doesn't mind when I cheer at his games. I holler things like, "Way to go Baby! Yeah Baby!" Once a mom told him, "you need to tell your mom not to call you Baby anymore." He quickly replied, "I don't mind, she calls my dad Babe and my sisters Baby Girl. When they play, that's how she cheers for them too."

The Warrior... will be 11 this year. He is my second Baby Boy.
* He stands up and defends those that can't. When he was only four, he stood up for his friend that was 7. We were at a McDonalds. The indoor play ground had a nintendo for kids to play. An older boy (who we did not know) took the controller from my son's friend and pushed him away. My son saw this. Went right up to the boy and told him , that he shouldn't of done that. It was not nice to take things away from people or to push people. The boys was surprised and speechless.
* He still lets me kiss and hug him. Yep, even in public. Well, even better, "he" hugs me and kisses me in public. Other's have made comments about it and he is quick to tell them, "I love my mama very much, now you know." LOL! He got that from Waterboy.

My Lord... the Creator.
* When I think about it, it really is unbelievable. Who would die for someone else? No one would. BUT, God did. He died so that I (and you) could spend eternity with Him. I love the way my Father loves me... unconditionally.

So, there it is, my list of thirteen things I love about those I love. Well, it was only 2 things per person, but in total it's thirteen. :o) Love month has one more week left. What will my last love list be about? Hmmm... my wheels are turning already. As the Clampett's would say on Beverly Hillbillies, "Y'all come back now, you hear?"

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Thursday Thirteen #5

2007-02-15T11:28:00.000-08:00

Since we are still in February and it's LOVE month, I thought I'd stick with the LOVE theme. Actually, I think we should show LOVE every day. If we focused on showing LOVE we wouldn't have time to be mean or cruel. But that just what I think. :o)

Thirteen Reasons Why I Love...
My Knight

* He seeks God's face every day. In seeking God, he tries follow His Word. His Word says, "Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her,"
-Ephesians 5:25 He shows me everyday, just how much he loves me.

* He loves me unconditionally. I know this may sound hard to believe, but it's true. When we got married he vowed take me as his wife, to have and to hold from that day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; and promised to be faithful to me until death parts us. This summer we will celebrate our 25 th wedding anniversary. He is true to his word. He's loved me through it all...

* When I was a little girl I dreamed of marrying a Knight in shining armor, a Champion, a Defender, a Prince. He is the man of my dreams... no... he's more than what I dreamed possible. He's surpassed my expectations.

* He's an encourager. He's got this, "you can do it" attitude. He makes me feel like I can do anything.

* He's unwavering. He stands firm for what he believes. To him there's only black and white, no gray. I admire his convictions. Right is right and wrong is wrong. No sitting on the fence.

* I can trust and depend on him.

* When he's wrong, he's quick to say so. Which to tell the truth, he's seldom wrong. I'm not exaggerating here, I'm telling the truth. My man is one of a kind. :o)

* He makes my heart skip beats.

* He makes me feel like I'm the most important person in his life.

* He's a great provider.

* His blue eyes melt my heart.

* We fit perfectly.

* He makes me whole.

I have got to say, that it was hard to limit my list to only thirteen . When it comes to him, my list would be endless. He's my everything. I'm so blessed that God saw fit to bring us together. I'm looking forward to the many years we have ahead of us. My life with him has been and is awesome. I keep thinking, "it can't get any better than this!" But it has and it keeps getting better. I believe in "Happily Ever After", I'm living it...

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Thursday Thirteen #4

2007-02-08T07:55:00.001-08:00

Thirteen Scriptures of Love

Valentine's Day is right around the corner. I can honestly say, that I know that I'm loved. Not just by my Knight, our Ladies in Waiting, our Squires and my family, but by my Lord too.

So many don't know that they are loved. I've decided to share Thirteen of my favorite scriptures that contain the word LOVE. They are in no particular order. There are so many with the word "loved", but I decided to narrow it down to love. Otherwise my list would have to be longer than a list of Thirteen.

Oh, by the way, just in case you don't know... YOU ARE LOVED!

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
-Romans 5:8

"Husbands, love you wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her"
-Ephesians 5:25

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thing no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails..."
-1 Corinthians 13:4-8

"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
-1 Corinthians 13:13

"Let all that you do be done with love."
-1 Corinthians 16:14

"A time to love, And a time to hate; A time for war, And a time of peace."
-Ecclesiastes 3:8

"Honor your father and your mother, 'and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
-Matthew 19:19

"But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them."
-Luke 6:32

"Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins."
-Provers 10:12

"You have heard that is was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,"
-Matthew 5:43-44

"But love your enemies, do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil."
-Luke 6:35

"Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your hear, with all your soul and with all your mind."
-Matthew 27:37

"He who has M commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."
-John 14:21

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Thursday Thirteen #3

2007-02-01T06:31:00.000-08:00

Thirteen quotes I say, that I got from movies...

1. "You are not my husband." -Sommersby
(a little funny between me and my Babe)

2. "As you wish" -The Princess Bride
(in a loving way)

3. "What ever you like." -Coming To America

4. "Why do you want to leave me?" -My BIG Fat Greek Wedding
(I even say it with the accent!)

5. "You complete me." -Jerry Maguire

6."Well done." -Babe

7. "No matter what occurs! I will find you.
No matter how long it takes,
no matter how far, I will find you."
-Last of The Mohicans

8. "Ditto" -Ghost

9. "Earn it" -Saving Private Ryan

10. "Face off" -Face Off

11. "Life is like a box of chocolate,
you never know what you're gonna get."
-Forrest Gump

12. "You think I'm gorgeous... you want to kiss me...
you want to date me."
-Miss Congeniality

13. "Be still my heart." -CIS Miami

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Thursday Thirteen #2

2007-01-25T08:11:00.000-08:00

Thirteen Sayings I Say The Most

This was a tough one for me to do. I have so many "sayings". Some I pick up from movies or songs. I guess that could be my next "Thirteen". A list of sayings I like from movies. Hmmm, I like that. :o) For now, these are some of the sayings I say the most.

1. "I love you"

2. "You're phenomenal!"

3. "Be still my heart"

4. "Sweetie"

5. "Darlin"

6. "Can't wait till you get home." ;o)

7. "Hey Beautiful!" - to my children and the young ladies I teach. I'm a Sunday School teacher.

8. "Life is Good"

9. "I love this song!"

10. "God doesn't make junk!"

11. "As you wish" -another way of saying I love you.

2. "What ever you like." -always in a loving way.

13. "Have I told you lately that I love you?" - I know it's from a Rod Stewart song, but I LOVE saying it. :o)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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My First Thirteen

2007-01-18T06:23:00.000-08:00

Thirteen Of My First...


1. Love- George was my first love. We were in first grade together.  Oh, we got married  twelve years later.  ;o)

2. Kiss- I was kissed for the first time at the tender age of 16.  Regrets?  Yes, I wish I would of saved my first kiss for when I got married.  My first kiss was not with my George.  :o(

3. Driving- I was 18 when I got my driver's license.  I only practiced driving one day.  That was the day before I got my license.

4. Date- My parents didn't allow me to date while in high school.  We always went out with a group of friends and my mom ALWAYS chaperoned.  First time I went out alone was with my Knight. It was December 1981.  I was 18.

5. Trip away from home- My wedding night.  :o)  What can I say, I was one of those good girls a mama wants their boys to marry.  I was 18.

6. Target shooting- I learned from the best... my Babe.  He was an MP when we married.  He taught me at 19.

7. Taco- I was 19 when I had my first taco.  I have never tried Mexican food.  We were invited to dinner at a friend's home.  They had cooked a Mexican meal.  Funny thing was, they weren't Mexicans, they were Italian.  The dinner was great though.

8. Snow skiing- Being a native Floridian, I had never seen snow.  While stationed in Europe, my Babe and I took up snow skiing.  It ROCKS!  I was 20.

9. Wind surfing- Do people still do this?  I can't believe having lived in Florida all my life I had never seen people wind surf.  I learned about it in Europe. Took it up, but stopped.  The water over there was FREEZING!  I was 20.

10. Basic German- First time attempting to learn a different language, it had to be German.  Learned enough to get me into trouble.  I mean the shopping kind of trouble.  :o)  " I need this in size 5."  "Do you have this in blue?"  "Where is the restroom?"  "Ice please."  *Note: they don't serve ice cold drinks and they don't serve ice.

11. Topless- I was 21.  We were in the middle of Lake Chiemsee.  On a paddle boat.  No one else was around.  I thought, why not try it.  Well, I should of put some sunscreen... enough said.  That was my first and last time EVER going topless.

12. Job- My first paying job was being a receptionist.  No easy task.  It was for three plastic surgeons.  One of who was top ten in the world!  He was booked up 3 years in advance.  No kidding!

13. Mom- My first Baby came along when I was 24.

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