Valentine's Day Hearts of Encouragement

Are you ready for my lack of creativity?! I am doing the same thing for my husband for Valentine's Day this year as I did last year.

I am all for super simple! My husband and I have read The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts, so I know that one of my husband's love languages is words of encouragement. I highly recommend this book for couples or just for individuals.

I will be writing on a heart for my husband every day in February until Valentine's Day. 

What I did:

1. Got a template for the hearts. If you are a better artist than me, freehand them! I made an image in google docs and then printed the shape for a template. I did a few different sizes.

2. Cut out 14 hearts. Use different colors be creative! Part of mine are from an old map.

3. Write on the hearts something encouraging and put up one per day. Starting February 1st, put up one heart per day until Valentine's Day. My hearts in the pictures don't have words on yet, because that would ruin the fun for my husband! They will by the end.

I have heard of people doing this activity for their kids as well. Not sure our little one would quite enjoy this activity yet this year though :)

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Linked to The Pin Junkie, The Craft Dictator

Will All the Ladies Please Stand?

When ladies dream of the man that they want to marry one day, they dream of a man who is a gentleman. I know we have different ways that we think being a gentleman should play out, such as holding the door, walking on the road side of the sidewalk, pulling out the chair the the lady. Some of those ideas might be important to some girls, and some would just make girls laugh. I think we all agree we want a guy to be a gentleman. Are you with me on that?

Yes, this was on my dream list. I didn't want them just to be a gentleman to me, but I wanted them to be a gentleman to those around me. And yes, I married a gentleman.

I remember going over to my inlaw's house wet, because we had not used an umbrella. My FIL looked at then my boyfriend and told him that chivalry is not dead. My husband was trained to be a gentleman!

Back in the days that I traveled on Encounter, I remember being in Logansport, Indiana, (why I remember where I was I don't know) when a team guy went to open the door for me. I told him that I was fully capable of opening the door for myself. He looked at me and told me that his mom taught him to be a gentleman. I remember looking at him and saying something like, I have muscles, I can open the door.

Fast forward a few months. My parents came to visit me at camp and we made a trip to Hershey, Pensylvania. I can smell it now! Yes, they have crockpots of chocolate on their factory tour that they fan towards you. Anyways, I held the door for my mom to walk into Hersheys. My dad walked up behind me and took the door from me and I walked through.

Why did I respond differently in the two different situations. I wish I knew. One thing I know, is that I needed to learn to be a lady. I saw this the picture the other day on pinterest.

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Yes, I am not naturally a lady. I think the feminist movement has encroached on those of us that are not feminists. I know I can hold a door by myself, but I also need to be willing to let a guy hold it for me.

If I want a guy to be a gentleman, I need to first be a lady.

Can you think of any areas that you fail to be a lady?

How are you training your child to be a lady or a gentleman? I would love to hear what you are intentionally doing to train them!

Make Your Own Fire Starters

My husband found this idea of making your own fire starters, and we love them. They create a slow, intense burn that helps light the rest of your stuff on fire. And they are super easy to make with things you can save from around your house!

Supplies:

Old wax

Paper egg carton

Dryer lint

Instructions:

• Fill all the holes with old dryer lint.
• Optional- my husband has put used matches down in some to use as a "wick" 
• Melt down wax. We use old candles and put the jars on the stove in a pot of water.
• Pour the wax over the dryer lint until the lint is pretty saturated. Not really a right or wrong amount here.
• Tear apart the egg carton and you are done!
• Place where you would like to start a fire and light. Use responsibly :)

I have heard that these are good for use in a charcoal grill. You don't get the taste of lighter fluid that way.

Dressin' Like a Cow

When my husband was planning out his schedule for July, he asked me if there were any days that I wanted him to take off. I told him the 12th. He asked what was going on. I said it was dress like a cow day at Chick-fil-A! 

We started off the day with free coffee from Bob Evans. Then headed on in search of some yummy free food!

I took white shirts from Scott and taped on some construction paper spots. I used cheap take, so we were loosing spots different times. Our outfits weren't very intense, but they worked to get us the whole entree. 

There are two Chick-fil-A's in our area so we decided to hit up both. The first one we went to was in the mall. We got to the food court and put on our shirts. Man, were the people looking at us. All for free food :) 

Chick-fil-A had games set up for the kids and balloon cows that they could get. I wanted to be a kid!

We then headed to a Restore and then to the other Chick-fil-A for round 2. My husband was a great sport on my crazy little adventure! 

I love being able to spend time with my husband, and I love being able to get free things!

The Evolution of the Swimsuit

This video about the evolution of the swimsuit has been floating around facebook. I didn't watch the video right away. After the link popped up several times, I decided to see what all the hoopla was about.

My husband and I watched this video and thought the point of modesty was very well brought out. I personally don't want a guy looking at me as an object.

I was thinking about this video this afternoon and I became very thankful about the fact that my mother made me be modest. You know those swimsuits like the one in this picture. 

Ya, she never let me get one. I did not like this idea because I wanted one back in the 80s when they were way cool  :)

But my mom wanted me to learn how to be modest. Wasn't thankful for this fact then, but I am now. I have a mom who cares about my future and what others will think about me. 

After watching this video, has your thinking been changed at all about modesty or swimsuits?

Happy Birthday to My Husband!

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My dear husband is now over a quarter of a century. I wish that I got to celebrate more of his birthday with him, but I guess I will take advantage of the little time that I do get. In honor of his age, here is a list of things that I love about my husband.

1. The laugh that comes out of him is the best sound and is very contagious. 
2. He provides well for our family.
3. He lets me tickle him even though I know he does not love being tickled.
4. He knows where the hamper is and how to use it. I never have to pick up after him.
5. He always opens the door for me. Always. 
6. The grin that he has is the most adorable.
7. He likes doing dishes.
8. Getting a good deal is ok with him. He doesn't hate my pile of coupons. 
9. He tries to be healthy and to make our family healthy.
10. He runs with me and pushes me to go farther. 
11. Nothing compromises that he is a man, but that doesn't keep him from being sensitive.
12. He cares about helping others.
13. He makes some awesome pancakes!
14. He prays with me daily.
15. When we go out to eat, he tips generously.
16. He randomly does nice things for me. Like yesterday I asked him to pick me up something at the grocery store and he came home with roses. Sweet!
17. There is this deep down love that he has for both his family and for my family.
18. He doesn't say negative things about me to others.
19. He is a hard worker...even if that means he works on his birthday.
20. He thinks about me throughout his day and touches base to let me know he is thinking about me.
21. He desires to grow spiritually.
22. Researching to see what is the best is something he does well.
23. He is the best nurse!
24. He gives the best back rubs.
25. He leads our family well.
26. He loves me unconditionally! 

Happy Birthday, SM! 

BSN complete!!

On Sunday, we had our families over for lunch just because we could, or so my husband thought. My husband has officially completed all the classwork for his bachelors in nursing...just waiting on that diploma! And so, because of this completion, we had a celebration!

I only got a few pictures from the day, but Scott got some gardening tools from his parents. Who would have thought that these tools would provide all the entertainment that the kids would need for the day!

My bro. He made my day. He said, I like that you left chunks of cream cheese in your dirt. I really like cream cheese. Why thanks! Glad I didn't get it completely mixed for you.

And the graduate. He had to take a fashion class to get his BSN. He randomly will say that he did something well because he took a fashion course. Silly guy!

I am proud of him for his hard work in completing his BSN. He studied hard until the very end. Who gets like a 97 or 98 in your final college class? Scott! And it makes me very proud of him! I love you, Scott!