A Christmas Gift for My Hubby(Shhhhh, don't tell!)

My husband and I met 17 years and many pounds ago ;)....and over the course of time, our wedding rings stopped fitting. I had mine cut off of my hand during one of my pregnancies when the usual pregnancy swelling made my ring too tight, cutting off my hand circulation (ouch). Martin had to take his off every day at work (company rules when working on machinery), and eventually it became harder and harder to get it back on.

I don't like not wearing a wedding ring because I feel like it is not avoiding the appearance of evil to be out with a bunch of kids and no wedding ring, and I want others to know (especially guys!) that I am married.

A few months ago, we were out together, and I saw a beautiful and very inexpensive ring in my size...and so that has become my wedding ring. Martin asked me a short while later for a wedding ring for him if I find one, so I got his ring size and started looking.

I found a nice, plain stainless steel band at Walmart for under $50, and they even engraved it (for free). I was thrilled to have it come in yesterday. It is engraved with:

"I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine." (Song of Solomon 6:3).

I can't wait to give it to him. I have a feeling I'm not going to be able to wait until Christmas. LOL

Have You Text-Messaged Your Hubby Today? (A Midweek Marriage Moment)

So, have you sent your hubby a text message lately?

Using a cell phone at work is not always possible or easy for a guy because bosses tend to frown on employees taking personal phone calls and that sort of thing...but it's super easy to send a text message just to say you're thinking of him or to tell him how thankful you are for him? It can be nice and quick, and he can look at it over and over again during his stressful day.

Not sure how to send a text? Using your cell phone, go to the address book. Select his cell phone number. Hit the option button that lets you choose what to do with the number (this is usually located next to the call button on most phones...but you may need to play around to figure out how to use yours). This is usually called a "Text Message" or an SMS Message (if you are a blackberry user like me). type a brief message using your thumbs on the keypad, and then hit send. Texting usually costs a few cents per text message (or is free if you have a texting plan with your cell phone service). Added bonus: it doesn't require you to have great service or all of your bars to send a text. At my house, out in the boonies, we don't get cell phone service good enough to have a phone conversation, but I can text quite easily.

You may also send a text via your computer by typing in the email address for the cell phone if that comes with your plan (usually the email addy is the cell phone number @ your server provider). Again, check out the user manual.

The Little Things ~ a midweek marriage moment

In Song of Solomon, we read "It's the Little Foxes that spoil the vines"...little things can make or break, can't they?

In our marriage, we never really went out on dates after the babies started coming, mostly because of babysitting issues. The whole problem of finding someone reliable and trustworthy to watch our kids, and the stress of a few bad experiences with babysitters (even and especially family member babysitters) was enough to make us not try it too often. Once we had to take our toddler daughter to the ER after one grandparent let her eat diaper creame (after all, she was happy playing with the tube....why take it from her?) or with the knowledge that one of my relatives took the kids to the bar (they called it a restaurant, despite the word "tavern" being in the title), and another time when another grandparent thought it ok to squeeze all five of my kids into her small car without seat belts (and got pulled over while doing so). I could go on and on, but I won't. I'm not even going to mention my kids being taught how to play poker using M & M's as chips ("they're learning their colors, honey!") or our nice Christian babysitter being caught on the couch with her boyfriend.

It probably then comes as no surprise that we pretty much left the idea of dating until a future date...the date at which children were able to watch themselves, and older siblings could babysit the younger ones. We've been enjoying this renewal in our relationship ever since, where we are able to get away for an hour or two alone.

One of the questions I have been emailed often is this: We're on a tight budget. How can we have a date night?

Well, I don't think you have to have some sort of formal date night...though you should make your relationship a priority. The emphasis should be on the relationship not on spending money.

Take last night for instance.

A friend of ours owns a window washing company, and my husband had to go up to Saginaw to do a few jobs on the side for him, and I needed a few things that I was putting off getting because of gas prices and time...so I went with him. I got dressed nicely (even though he was wearing work clothes), and I did my shopping while he worked, then spent the last little bit of time just sitting with him, watching him work, and finally we went out and split a sub while sitting in a park. Nothing too fancy, but I know he liked me first of all going with him, secondly dressing up a little bit instead of going out looking grungy (even though he was :-)), and then just sitting there watching him work while listening to my mp3 player in my phone, and taking silly pictures of us with our cell phones. He took the picture of me that I am now using as my profile picture :-) and I took this one of us:




Other times, we have taken a chess board, and played chess on the front porch (or in a park or cafe), and things like that. You don't need to go to a fancy restaurant every week...or even every year for that matter unless you are able.