Just stopping by to add a few more special ways that my sweet heart tells me he loves me without saying the words "I Love You"...
22. by saving me his last piece of pie crust
23. by making my scrambled eggs nice and dry
24. by taking the pretty scenic route
25. by helping me teach the children's church class
26. by telling me all the reasons that I'll probably get the job
27. by patiently enduring my projects all around the house
28. by putting a little lemonade in my iced tea
29. by stopping at McDonald's instead of another burger place so I can have yogurt instead of fries
30. by ordering my sandwich with "pickle only"
31. by carrying in all the flowers and decorations for the piano recital
32. by cooking up all the chicken for the Pampered Chef party and organizing all of the pieces so everyone knows which piece has which seasoning rub on it
33. by listening to sermons together in the morning, in the car...
34. by not filling in ANY of the complaints on the marriage survey, when, if he looked at me as I really am, he could fill in the majority of complaints
35. by acting like he doesn't care who sees that I'm crying at our table in 5 Guys--well, it's not really an act. He's very patient when I just have to have a good cry.
36. by saving me a few cherries, grapes, shrimp, and so on, even though I have a history of gobbling up the last one
37. by holding on to me when we're walking down a steep hill
38. by holding up my back cushion when I'm getting in the car
39. when he made sure Grandma's wheel chair was facing the window so she could see the beautiful view
40. by bringing home one more bookshelf
These have not been posted in order of importance, and there are many, many more, but I'm happy to have this informal chronicle of loving memories.
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Thursday, February 14, 2013
40 Ways to Say I Love You 11-21
Since last Valentine's Day I feel as if I've just been propelled from one thing to another -- many happy events, mixed with difficult trials. My 40 Ways project has been on my mind, but not yet set on paper, so here are a few more entries describing ways that my husband says, "I Love You," without literally saying it...
11. Gobbling up the dinner I've made cheerfully even when it wasn't perfect.
12. Noticing how much I liked that little expandable wall mirror in the hotel, and then installing one in our bathroom.
13. Decorating my music room with such joyful items for my students and me to enjoy during the holidays.
14. Singing Christmas carols a capella as a family on Christmas morning.
15. Stopping at the home medical store when we were on the road to buy a new seat cushion since it was too late to go back home for the one I forgot.
16. Sharing his chocolate pineapple upside down cake with me.
17. Cooking every holiday dinner for the past 24 years.
18. Loving my relatives and opening our home to them often.
19. Speaking of loving my relatives, happily watching Food Network while they are here instead of football. Okay, I mentioned this one already, so maybe I'll add a number 41 at the end :-)
20. Thinking of fun ways to send care packages to the kids at college--interestingly shaped boxes, etc.
21. Turning the extra room downstairs into my music room instead of a man cave.
11. Gobbling up the dinner I've made cheerfully even when it wasn't perfect.
12. Noticing how much I liked that little expandable wall mirror in the hotel, and then installing one in our bathroom.
13. Decorating my music room with such joyful items for my students and me to enjoy during the holidays.
14. Singing Christmas carols a capella as a family on Christmas morning.
15. Stopping at the home medical store when we were on the road to buy a new seat cushion since it was too late to go back home for the one I forgot.
16. Sharing his chocolate pineapple upside down cake with me.
17. Cooking every holiday dinner for the past 24 years.
18. Loving my relatives and opening our home to them often.
19. Speaking of loving my relatives, happily watching Food Network while they are here instead of football. Okay, I mentioned this one already, so maybe I'll add a number 41 at the end :-)
20. Thinking of fun ways to send care packages to the kids at college--interestingly shaped boxes, etc.
21. Turning the extra room downstairs into my music room instead of a man cave.
Friday, July 20, 2012
40 Ways to Say I Love You--7 through 10
7. He invites me to run to the hardware store with him.
8. He patiently enjoys piano lessons and singing together.
9. He noticed that I like faucets with handles that you don't have to turn, and then he installed one.
10. He cooks delicious dinners while I'm teaching.
What a busy year it has been! But maybe I'll finish this list before the next Valentine's Day <3
8. He patiently enjoys piano lessons and singing together.
9. He noticed that I like faucets with handles that you don't have to turn, and then he installed one.
10. He cooks delicious dinners while I'm teaching.
What a busy year it has been! But maybe I'll finish this list before the next Valentine's Day <3
Sunday, January 29, 2012
40 ways to say I love you--Day 6
Well, I'm going to have to do some catching up here, but for today, I'll just add one:
I'm so grateful for Bill (and Cherith) baking 200 cookies for my piano recital, and then spending their Saturday afternoon doing set-up, serving refreshments, etc.
I'm so grateful for Bill (and Cherith) baking 200 cookies for my piano recital, and then spending their Saturday afternoon doing set-up, serving refreshments, etc.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
40 ways to say I love you--day 5
He was agreeable for my mom and the sisters to watch Food Network in the cozy chairs on New Years Day instead of football :-)
Saturday, January 7, 2012
40 ways to say I love you – day 4
When I was in the hospital, Bill came right over to see me every day after work, and he sat with me until it was time to go to sleep.
Friday, January 6, 2012
40 ways to say I love you--day 3
I love all the things he has done with our kids:
VBS
amusement parks
driving to every playground in the county
visiting every library branch in the city
making gingerbread houses
coaching Bible quiz
home improvement projects
painting pottery
being in church together every Sunday
and so much more...
VBS
amusement parks
driving to every playground in the county
visiting every library branch in the city
making gingerbread houses
coaching Bible quiz
home improvement projects
painting pottery
being in church together every Sunday
and so much more...
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
40 ways to say I love you…
They say that love is more than a feeling – so true!
I'm starting a few days late, but with almost 40 days to Valentine's Day, I've been thinking about all the ways my husband shows me that he loves me besides the things he says to me. Since I'm starting a few days late, I'll have to post a few at one time today. They are not in chronological order.
1. When I called him at work upset about something I had broken, he brought flowers home for me.
2. After we got married, he paid off my student loan and my car loan.
3. At each new house that we bought, he planted roses for me and put up a rose arbor, letting them hang loose and free a little bit the way I like them when he would prefer them to be wrapped up more neatly.
4.Although it would be more practical for me to have a different kind of job, I'm happy that he is agreeable for me to work at home, taking up time and space from our family at a job that I love.
I'm starting a few days late, but with almost 40 days to Valentine's Day, I've been thinking about all the ways my husband shows me that he loves me besides the things he says to me. Since I'm starting a few days late, I'll have to post a few at one time today. They are not in chronological order.
1. When I called him at work upset about something I had broken, he brought flowers home for me.
2. After we got married, he paid off my student loan and my car loan.
3. At each new house that we bought, he planted roses for me and put up a rose arbor, letting them hang loose and free a little bit the way I like them when he would prefer them to be wrapped up more neatly.
4.Although it would be more practical for me to have a different kind of job, I'm happy that he is agreeable for me to work at home, taking up time and space from our family at a job that I love.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Senior year is going too fast...!
Cherith's senior year is going too fast--Lord, please slow things down a bit!
O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
http://www.esvbible.org/Psalm+131/
O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, hope in the Lord
from this time forth and forevermore.
http://www.esvbible.org/Psalm+131/
Friday, February 18, 2011
Parallels That Mothers Make
I found myself noticing two interesting parallels this month:
1. Working on a hard passage of music is like comforting a colicky baby. No matter what you do, the baby cries and it seems like he will never feel better. Sometimes no matter how much I work at mastering a passage, I continue to trip over the notes and it seems like it will never smooth out. I know that my students feel this way, too.
But research tells us that the the colicky baby does feel our comfort and that it does make a difference, even if he doesn't show it. And working on that passage faithfully will result in beautiful music someday if we don't give up on it.
2. The last month before a big concert is like the last month of pregnancy. It is a wonderful time, but I can't wait for delivery day to just love and enjoy that baby. At at concert time, I just can't wait until the students are all up there playing and just enjoying the music they have worked so hard to share.
1. Working on a hard passage of music is like comforting a colicky baby. No matter what you do, the baby cries and it seems like he will never feel better. Sometimes no matter how much I work at mastering a passage, I continue to trip over the notes and it seems like it will never smooth out. I know that my students feel this way, too.
But research tells us that the the colicky baby does feel our comfort and that it does make a difference, even if he doesn't show it. And working on that passage faithfully will result in beautiful music someday if we don't give up on it.
2. The last month before a big concert is like the last month of pregnancy. It is a wonderful time, but I can't wait for delivery day to just love and enjoy that baby. At at concert time, I just can't wait until the students are all up there playing and just enjoying the music they have worked so hard to share.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
What I Learned About Life By Cleaning My House Today
Sometimes things seem so overwhelming.
I looked around this afternoon and in every corner of our home, there was a BIG mess.
It doesn't matter how it happened. It just did. And it didn't happen overnight.
It made me want to cry, and it made me want to shout and complain. The HOLIDAYS are coming up. Things are supposed to be SPECIAL and BEAUTIFUL, not messy and dirty.
I couldn't imagine how I would get things under control in the next twelve months, let alone by next week, or tomorrow (Sunday--another day that is supposed to be SPECIAL and BEAUTIFUL).
So how did I handle this dilemma? I was exhausted so I cried out to the Lord for help and took a nap. Not necessarily in that order. I can't remember which--maybe they were simultaneous.
When I woke up, everything looked the same, and I felt the same about it, but I did the only thing one can do in such a situation. I picked up one item and I put it away. Then I picked up another. And another. This went on and on all day. First the coffee table got cleaned up, then the living room floor. Then the worst things in the kitchen got put in the dishwasher. Thankfully, not as much as I expected had to be washed by hand (something I go to great lengths to avoid).
I won't bore you with the rest of the chores. They aren't all done yet. Are they ever? But I can look around my home and smile again.
About three quarters of the way through all of this, something occurred to me. It's not only our homes that can get to be hopeless messes. Our lives can get this way, too. Parts of our lives, or even all of it may seem that way at times.
These things make all the difference:
1. Tell the Lord all about it. "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7
2. Rest.
3. Deal with one thing at a time.
4. Don't ever give up--not ever " because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5
Are things not right between you and God? Just turn to him now because "if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13
Remember how there wasn't as much to wash by hand as I thought there was? Well, in your life, there probably isn't as much horrible stuff to deal with as you might think, but even if there is, God can handle it. He will do it with you, and some of it he might even take care of for you. (Even when he is doing it with you, he is doing it for you; he's just letting you take part in the process.)
It may not take as long as you think, but even if it does God will give you joy on the journey. Halfway through my Christmas week mess, things began to look brighter, even though there was a lot more to do.
New trials meet us every day, yet "Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."Lamentations 3:22-23
(I don't know why some of the words came out so large. I can't seem to fix it.)
I looked around this afternoon and in every corner of our home, there was a BIG mess.
It doesn't matter how it happened. It just did. And it didn't happen overnight.
It made me want to cry, and it made me want to shout and complain. The HOLIDAYS are coming up. Things are supposed to be SPECIAL and BEAUTIFUL, not messy and dirty.
I couldn't imagine how I would get things under control in the next twelve months, let alone by next week, or tomorrow (Sunday--another day that is supposed to be SPECIAL and BEAUTIFUL).
So how did I handle this dilemma? I was exhausted so I cried out to the Lord for help and took a nap. Not necessarily in that order. I can't remember which--maybe they were simultaneous.
When I woke up, everything looked the same, and I felt the same about it, but I did the only thing one can do in such a situation. I picked up one item and I put it away. Then I picked up another. And another. This went on and on all day. First the coffee table got cleaned up, then the living room floor. Then the worst things in the kitchen got put in the dishwasher. Thankfully, not as much as I expected had to be washed by hand (something I go to great lengths to avoid).
I won't bore you with the rest of the chores. They aren't all done yet. Are they ever? But I can look around my home and smile again.
About three quarters of the way through all of this, something occurred to me. It's not only our homes that can get to be hopeless messes. Our lives can get this way, too. Parts of our lives, or even all of it may seem that way at times.
These things make all the difference:
1. Tell the Lord all about it. "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7
2. Rest.
3. Deal with one thing at a time.
4. Don't ever give up--not ever " because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5
Are things not right between you and God? Just turn to him now because "if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13
Remember how there wasn't as much to wash by hand as I thought there was? Well, in your life, there probably isn't as much horrible stuff to deal with as you might think, but even if there is, God can handle it. He will do it with you, and some of it he might even take care of for you. (Even when he is doing it with you, he is doing it for you; he's just letting you take part in the process.)
It may not take as long as you think, but even if it does God will give you joy on the journey. Halfway through my Christmas week mess, things began to look brighter, even though there was a lot more to do.
New trials meet us every day, yet "Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."Lamentations 3:22-23
(I don't know why some of the words came out so large. I can't seem to fix it.)
Thursday, November 25, 2010
I'm Thankful For Brushes and Brooms
For Christmas 1991, our oldest daughter, Melissa, received this gift from her Grandma and Grandpa Crawford:
Precious Moments Through the Year Stories by V. Gilbert Beers and Samuel J. Butcher
She was, and still is, Daddy's Precious Moments Girl in every way. Not long after that we had three in our quiver--Melissa, Malachi, and Cherith.
On Thanksgiving 1992, and on every Thanksgiving Day since then, I have read this poem from her book before dinner.
"I heard Mom say as she scrubbed today,
'I'm thankful for brushes and brooms.
I'm glad to clean my cozy house
That's filled with cheerful rooms.'
I heard Mom say at the washing machine,
'I'm thankful for dirty clothes.
I'm glad that I have a healthy child
Who can play each day she grows.'
I heard Mom say at the sink tonight,
'I'm thankful for dirty dishes.
I'm glad we filled our plates with food
Instead of empty wishes.'
I heard Mom say in her prayers tonight,
'I'm thankful for problems today.
If life never got a little bit rough,
I might forget to pray.' "
Happy Thanksgiving!
Precious Moments Through the Year Stories by V. Gilbert Beers and Samuel J. Butcher
She was, and still is, Daddy's Precious Moments Girl in every way. Not long after that we had three in our quiver--Melissa, Malachi, and Cherith.
On Thanksgiving 1992, and on every Thanksgiving Day since then, I have read this poem from her book before dinner.
"I heard Mom say as she scrubbed today,
'I'm thankful for brushes and brooms.
I'm glad to clean my cozy house
That's filled with cheerful rooms.'
I heard Mom say at the washing machine,
'I'm thankful for dirty clothes.
I'm glad that I have a healthy child
Who can play each day she grows.'
I heard Mom say at the sink tonight,
'I'm thankful for dirty dishes.
I'm glad we filled our plates with food
Instead of empty wishes.'
I heard Mom say in her prayers tonight,
'I'm thankful for problems today.
If life never got a little bit rough,
I might forget to pray.' "
Happy Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Summer break is over...
Snacks are all cleaned up
now. No more scattered books or
laundry warm this space.
now. No more scattered books or
laundry warm this space.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Marriage Wordle
Family Wordle
Hmmm, I wish I knew how to actually get this family wordle to appear, but maybe you won't mind taking a minute to go to the link...
title="Wordle: Many Waters Daniel 3">
alt="Wordle: Many Waters Daniel 3"
style="padding:4px;border:1px solid #ddd">
Hope to make a few more of these with different themes...
title="Wordle: Many Waters Daniel 3">
alt="Wordle: Many Waters Daniel 3"
style="padding:4px;border:1px solid #ddd">
Hope to make a few more of these with different themes...
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Musings on a New Season of Motherhood
Well, we're leaving now. Call us if you need anything over the weekend...
Okay, have a safe trip, Mom.
Have a safe trip, Mom? I'm supposed to be the one saying, Have a safe trip, as he leaves for camp, or tour, or school, or whatever the next adventure is... Now instead of him leaving for a trip without us, we are leaving for a trip without him.
1:00 AM The phone rings in our hotel room as we sleep.
Mom, I think I have to take Cherith to the Emergency Room. She might have appendicitis or something.
Oh, I am not supposed to be 200 miles away when something like this happens. I should be panicking, but I'm not. He is calm and caring and ready to do whatever it takes to be sure his sister is safe.
Although he is not a parent yet, our son has stepped out of childhood and begun his journey of manhood. Not that it began with this incident, but I just became more conscious of it at this time, I guess.
Okay, have a safe trip, Mom.
Have a safe trip, Mom? I'm supposed to be the one saying, Have a safe trip, as he leaves for camp, or tour, or school, or whatever the next adventure is... Now instead of him leaving for a trip without us, we are leaving for a trip without him.
1:00 AM The phone rings in our hotel room as we sleep.
Mom, I think I have to take Cherith to the Emergency Room. She might have appendicitis or something.
Oh, I am not supposed to be 200 miles away when something like this happens. I should be panicking, but I'm not. He is calm and caring and ready to do whatever it takes to be sure his sister is safe.
Although he is not a parent yet, our son has stepped out of childhood and begun his journey of manhood. Not that it began with this incident, but I just became more conscious of it at this time, I guess.
Friday, July 23, 2010
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