My Hubby IS My Boyfriend

In the last year a number of people close to us have been experiencing marital problems and are either contemplating divorce, or have actually become divorced.  I have spent a lot of time pondering this.  Jeff and I have an amazing marriage.  It isn’t perfect, and there are hard times – I know that sometimes I probably drive him crazy, but we love each other deeply and are truly best friends.

As I have contemplated things to tell others who are struggling with their marriage, one idea that I have thought a lot about is, “What would you do differently after you got divorced?”  Well, I assume that you would start looking for a new boyfriend (or girlfriend, as the case may be).  Hmmm, seems like if you were on the “hunt” for a new person, you would probably treat that other person a bit differently than you treat your current spouse. 

What kinds of things would you do?  I would imagine that you would make sure you looked your best when you knew you were going out.  I assume you would date!!!  You would probably text each other and call each other throughout the day.  You would hold your tongue more often, be patient, and give the other person the benefit of the doubt.  You would use endearing words to them, you would put their comfort and happiness before your own.  You get my drift here….

So, if you are going to go to all that effort to have a boyfriend, why not make your HUSBAND your boyfriend???!!!!!  How do you greet your hubby when he gets home from work?  Do you basically ignore him, or do you give him a big hug and kiss?  Do you ever call or text him during the day just to share a funny incident or to tell him you love him?  Do you cuddle up with him when you watch a movie?  Do you sit by him in church or do you let all of the kids sit between you?

I love being married to my boyfriend!!  After 30 years we still flirt, cuddle, and hold hands with each other.  We have a weekly date, and we make a great effort to take good care of each other. 

Don’t you think it would be better to keep the spouse you have and keep your family intact?  It IS possible to fall back in love even if you think you have “fallen out of love.”  Give it a try…what do you have to lose???

Birthday Traditions

At our house, birthdays are a BIG deal.  Today is my hubby's 49th birthday, but even though he's not a kid anymore, we still make birthdays fun!!!

We start off first thing in the morning making sure we wish the birthday person a happy birthday!  They get to choose whatever they want for breakfast.  This usually entails things like Belgian Waffles, hash browns, and bacon.  All over the table the person has to find their "birthday pennies."  We hide about $1.50 to $2 in coins under plates, dishes, serving dishes, milk cartons, etc. all over the table and they have to find it all before they can start eating.

There is always a bouquet of balloons that day, the use of the honored "You Are Special" plate, a few rounds of loving "birthday spanks," and a cake (flavor of the birthday person's choice) decorated by me.  Now, you have to understand...some of my cakes have turned out looking pretty fabulous.  Some not so much!!!  One year it was so bad for Lyndsi's birthday (Mike Wyzoski stuck to the pan!!) that I ran to the grocery and bought an Elmo cake!!!

Of course, there is a birthday lunch with Mom and Dad, but sometimes if school or work are involved it has to wait until the weekend.

For dinner the birthday person again chooses the menu.  Some of the top favorites are Mom's homemade pizza, lasagna, and salmon.

After dinner comes the presents and party.  It's fun to have Jeff's parents so close because they are usually here to help us celebrate!!  We sing to the person (if you've heard us sing, I don't know if that is necessarily a GOOD thing!!), open presents, and then have the cake with candles, etc.  There's usually lots of laughing and way too many pictures!!!

One thing that has been fun is that when our children were little, on someone's birthday, they would make them a BUNCH of gifts...little homemade things like coupons and pictures.  It was always so neat!!

We feel it's important for our birthday people to see how much we love them!!!