It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Holy guacamole it's been a while since a blog has been published.  It could be because I haven't wanted to take the time to sit down and write one.  It could also be because Craig and I just got done traveling over 1,000 miles over the holiday break.  Or it could be because I have had no motivation to be inspirational or encouraging to our readers, simply due to life's events that have chosen to take place recently.  I am going to say it is a mixture of all three reasons, with reason number four being that I simply have no clue why I haven't written in such a long time!  We hope that everyone had a blessed time over the Christmas holiday, despite set backs or chaos and stress.  Sometimes it is hard to look past that all to see the real meaning for the season.  It was nice to be reminded of the Christmas story via Christian holiday radio stations, billboards, friends, blogs, and neighbors.  I caught myself with a negative attitude when hearing the famous chorus, "it's the most wonderful time of the year.  it's the hap, happiest season of all!"  As many times as I've heard that song and sung to the tune when it hits the radio, it created a bitterness in me this year.  Not because I wasn't happy or joyful but because this holiday can be emotionally or physically hard for some people.  Loved ones lost, families torn, friendships broken, and materials stolen [my heart goes out to you Mom & Molly].  I can think of other times throughout the year that were "hap happier."  But I am learning that attitude and heart break are what you make of it.  Do I chose to dwell in my sorrows and cry "woe to me" to my husband all the time or do I look toward the future and anticipate what God will do with unfortunate situations?  Shamefully, I venture toward the first response.  My poor husband! 

Our Christmas was very merry though!  We had a wonderful day with my Mom, Craig's mom Marian, and the Issaquah Smiths!  It was low key with the occasional plop on the couch to catch scenes of Ralphie in "The Christmas Story." 

Santa was good to us.  She got us beautiful new items for our house and I got a sweet rain gear running outfit, running pants, and a running shirt!  I think I'm set.  And mini Santa Molly got us an outdoor fire pit for our new backyard!  Everyone is welcome to come enjoy it!

We got to spend time with his side of the family and my side equally; with a quaint 1-night stay in his Mom's newly redone guest room and a luxurious 5-night stay at my Mom's.  We attended a crazy Hoffman family Christmas party and a smaller, yet still as crazy, Haskins family Christmas party.  We saw family near and far with little time to visit with friends.

"Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” john 16:33

try this...

50 Questions to Ask your Spouse on a Date Night

By Zach Terry

Today I met at Starbucks with a few guys to discuss how what we have been studying on Sunday mornings at Capshaw practically applies to our lives. One of the big things we discovered was the need for very open communication and date nights with our spouses. To help with that I want to share this list of 50 questions that are to be discussed with your spouse while the two of you are alone. Don’t try to tackle too many in one setting. It’s actually best if you just get through a few but really talk in detail. Let me warn you that a couple of the questions are specifically only for married couples.


1.  What are your 5 favorite foods, with the most favorite first?
2.  What are your 5 favorite kinds of meals, with the most favorite first?
3.  What are your 5 favorite desserts, with the most favorite first?
4.  What are your 5 favorite restaurants, with the most favorite first?
5.  What is your favorite color?
6.  What are your 5 favorite hobbies, with the most favorite  first?
7.  What are your 5 favorite recreations, with the most favorite  first?
8.  What are your 5 favorite sources of reading, with the most favorite  first?
9.  What gifts do you like?
10.  What is your favorite books(s) of the Bible? Why?
11.  What is your favorite verse(s) of the Bible?  Why?
12.  What is your favorite song?
13.  What makes you the most fulfilled or happiest as a woman/man?
14.  What makes you the most fulfilled or happiest as a wife/husband?
15.  What makes you the most fulfilled or happiest as a mother/father?
16.  What makes you saddest as a woman/man?
17.  What makes you saddest as a wife/husband?
18.  What makes you saddest as a mother/father?
19.  What do you fear the most?
20.  What other fears do you have?
21.  What do you look forward to the most?
22.  How much sleep do you need?
23.  What do you consider to be your skills?
24.  What do you believe to be your spiritual gifts?
25.  What are your weaknesses?
26.  To ask wife:  What things (personal, home, car, etc.) need repairing?
       To ask husband:  What things around the home need to be cleaned?
27.  To ask wife:  With what chores and responsibilities do you like my help?
       To ask husband:  How can I make it easier for you to lead our family?
28.  What caresses do you enjoy the most?
29.  What caresses do you enjoy the least?
30.  What action of mine provides you the greatest sexual pleasure? 
31.  What other things stimulate you sexually?
32.  At what times do you need assurance of my love the most?
33.  How can that love be shown?
34.  What can I do that will make it easier to discuss and work on areas or problems that are uncomfortable to you?
35.  What concerns do you have that I do not seem interested in?
36.  What things do I do that irritate you?
37.  What desires do you have that we haven’t discussed?
38.  What do you enjoy doing with me, with the most enjoyable  first?
39.  What things can I do that show my appreciation of you?
40.  What varying desires (spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual, social, worth, 
            appreciations, recreational, security, etc.) would you like me to provide? 
41.  To ask wife:  In what ways would you like me to protect you (physically, spiritually, socially, emotionally)?
       To ask husband:  In what ways would you like me to respect and reverence you?
42.  In what ways would you like me to sacrifice for you?
43.  What things do you see by my actions that I place first in my life?
44.  What implied or unspoken desires and wishes of yours would you like for me to
            fulfill?
45.  What concerns and interests of yours would you like me to support?
46.  How much time would be good for us to spend together each day?
47.  In helping family members to use their skills and develop their abilities, what
            motivating factors would be helpful for me to use?
48.  What can I do that provides the greatest comfort and encouragement for you when   
            you are hurt, fearful, anxious or worried?
49.  What personal habits do I have that you would like changed?
50.  What ways demonstrate to you that you are a very important person who is as important or more important than I am?

gadgets, whatnots, and 4:30am

My husband Craig and I had a very pleasant weekend.

pleasant: pleasing, agreeable, or enjoyable; giving

I have given you a definition above just so you can get a real feel for how our weekend was.  I got a running start into the weekend by working 4:30 mornings Thursday and Friday.  It just better prepared me to gear up for my alarm going off at 3:30am this week, Monday - Friday!  It's not as bad as I thought it was going to be.  I am definitely a morning person.  The second my alarm sounds I am up and ready to go!  Of course a cup of coffee is necesarry within the first 30 minutes to keep the energy streak going.  I race up the steep hill with my mace in hand to make sure I get the doors open to the gym by 4:30 (and there are members already there waiting for me!)  Now it is a race against the clock to get enough coffee made and to keep enough coffee made :]  My first morning I was unprepared.  I only had one regular pot and one decaf with no backups ready to go.  Crankiness struck!  So, day two, I was proactive!  Two pots on the counter and two backups!

Friday evening Craig and I got to go see Toy Story 3 on ice at the arena.  We were surrounded by children [not to mention a pedophiles dream come true].  We felt out of place that we didn't have our own with us.  But, nonetheless, it was very entertaining.

Moving right along.  Saturday was a lazy day, despite my 6 mile run I got in :]  We got a lot accomplished -- including Christmas shopping, cards addressed, kitchen and bathroom cleaned!  We ended our day with some frozen yogurt and a stop into Carter's (a baby clothing store).  How I got my husband to go in with me...I'll never know!  One of the baby snow suits just swallowed me whole!  May the Lord bless me with small children because I am not too big myself.

these two outfits below are for Molly's first baby girl...!

Sunday, we got our church in, grocery shopping done, more Christmas gifts purchased, and a pizza made!!!  We also attempted to attend a Sunday night service at a church down south we enjoy.  We thought it started at 5:30, so with a 30 minute drive we were pushing it to get there on time.  We fly into the parking lot and race into the sanctuary.  Scooting and pushing our way to the middle of a pew, we sit down to discover that service started at 5:00 and they were well into the message.  So, without hesitation, we scooted and pushed our way out of the pew and drive home.  Gas wasted!  We laughed so hard!  Instead, we got to go home and play with our new gadget, an airpop popcorn popper!

Yum!

Now it's 3:30am Monday through Friday.

Oh joy!