Wednesday 30 April 2008

Revive our hearts

Day Nine:
"...be swift to hear, slow to speak..." James 1:19b

If listening is a real problem for you, play a game with yourself. See if you can listen to your husband for one whole day, only speaking when asked a question. If your husband notices the difference, explain that you are learning to listen more-not only to God, but also to him.

OMG - if I stop talking he thinks he is in trouble .Even though I didn't get to do this today - it's on my to do list tomorrow. He will think it is Christmas if I tell him I will listen to him ...*snort*

Wordless Wednesday - Mouse Problem




All Fix'd

Tuesday 29 April 2008

Screwup Tuesday ...


Bettina started this meme and I am playing today

Screw up 1.

Friday night I ordered 2 Pizzas from HERE - I sent DH, my cousin M and 14yr old to pick them up .They were also going to get a DVD which is in same complex. I say it will be $14.50


They return home with 3 pizzas and I quiz them.
He insists "they said you ordered 3" - I say I didn't .
I open the boxes to dig in quick and only one of the 3 pizzas is what I ordered.

I quiz them more ... Dh said he asked did they have another order for xxxxxx (insert our surname) because he thought I said 2 too. They said no we only have one order for xxxxxx. DH thinks oh well,takes, pays and comes home. The price was almost same $14.90.DH nevers argues on price (even if he remembered I said $14.50 - I would argue over 5c) . He also didn't have his mobile to call and check. Unusual for him not to carry it.



I jump immediately on phone to complain while scoffing down pizza anyway. They aren't sure what happened - I badger them for a credit for next time on my favourite which is missing.



Pizza is all gone 5 mins later ... they start to gnaw read the box lid and talk about the promo . I suddenly notice this ...
uh huh ...

I ask them why they went THERE - instead of HERE


THEY thought I had called THERE (because of the vouchers that DH had brought in with the mail) even though I knew they were going HERE to get a DVD too.

Funny thing is that THERE had pizzas for xxxxxx ready at that exact time and that we beat them to THEIR pizzas .

I bet that the other xxxxxx family were curing THERE's screwup !!! over THEIR pizza's.

In case your wondering I did not ring back HERE - because I was still rolling on the floor laughing my @rse off - we all were was so embarrassed and I am a tightwad - cause they owe me a free pizza ... makes up for the other times when it was cold and crappy.

SCREW UP 2 ...I saved the best for last ... murphy and karma visit ...

DH was outside Saturday and tiding up the Brothers' toys and backyard.

I was inside doing paperwork on my computer. I go outside to check what they are doing ... procrastinating.

DH is mowing the lawn... actually he is kneeling by the grass clippings.

I notice S is sans glasses . I ask where are S's (new 1 week old) glasses.
As I approach DH meets me at the clothes line (not for a kiss)... he opens his wallet and starts laying
in my hot , itcy palms . Then a tatty piece of hat elastic ...

I no comprehendo ...

I look puzzled ...

Then the four hundred dollar bomb penny drops ...


After much WTF "$#@%&^*(#@!%^&*($#@%&)^*(#@!%^&*($#@%&^*(#@!%^&*(*)"

We I kick search the clippings and find the expensive lenses ($120 worth - scratch resistant polycarbonate lenses designed to last to withstand the rough stuff - hello ? does include the lawn mower) but no frame ($159) ...still !

It's now Saturday afternoon -shops are shut - so I create these from the Baby Banz sunglasses by popping out the sunglass lenses and inserting the other lenses. Just to make do till I can rob a bank get back to the shop.


The shop screwed up -the first pair broke after 4 weeks and were slightly small in temple /arms -kept pushing his ears forward , the 2nd pair barely a week old were the replacement but slightly too big in temple so glasses were sitting on his nose and loose - so S kept taking them off. DH didn't see them in the grass ...

So my screwup was blaming DH... and saying a lot of negative things and blowing my 30 day encouragement challenge ...

I am still investigating a new pair -this time I am getting Titanium ones like these Easytwist.

I should have read this information first too.

Totally my screw up ! but shhh don't tell my DH !



Revive our hearts
Day Eight:

"...but who can find a faithful man?" Prov. 20:6b

My husband is without a shadow of a doubt faithful and true to our vows !

Enough said - he is still here after 20 years -18 yrs married.

How am I going with the "30-Day Encouragement Challenge"? In case you've forgotten, here's the challenge:
* You can't say anything negative about your husband ...to your husband...or to anyone else, about your husband.
* Say something that you admire or appreciate about your husband...to your husband...and to someone else, about your husband!

Meh .. a few screwups as I mentioned above but still working on it.

Monday 28 April 2008

Money Moanday

Revive our hearts ~ Day Seven:
"Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease!...for riches certainly make themselves wings..." Prov. 23:4-5
"That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries."
Proverbs 8:21

Money is the root of much marital discord. Ask yourself, "Am I being negative toward my husband in the area of finances?"
Yes... I am a tightwad and I have always been the one to handle most of the finances. We share all our money and we have shared a joint account always. We spend freely and wisely most of the time.

This is one area I will have to work harder to encourage him ... and remember not to say anything negative in the process - I bombed tonight again.

He is a little weak in the area of keeping track of his spending. I can be too.I appreciate his generous spirit and his hard work earning our money.

This challenge prompted me today to nag challenge him.No, I didn't yell much but I really hassled him over what has ? he been spending money on - he didn't know - arghhhh!

He is a usually a wise spender but likes "Hardware" stores and often buys things we don't need ... or I think so.

I have been informally committed to the

I am continuing it through May as much as I can. I will encourage him to help me and ask for his input before I make decisions that will affect him.

I worry now, since we have basically half the income we had since S & J were born, how we will make ends meet our savings have dwindled.

I worry too much.I have to let go and trust him to provide.

Though -I am still going to be a tightwad ...

What is RSS ?

RSS Awareness Day


May 1st is RSS awareness day ?

Thanks Sue @Blogging Sueblimely for bringing this to my attention.
Daniel of Blogging Tips has initiated RSS Awareness Day to take place 1st May. The objective - to get as many people as possible talking about RSS and its benefits
You can join in and get involved here!

So do you know what RSS is and how it works ?

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a format used to deliver information from websites and pages that get updated regularly

Tonight I was staggered to read only 4-5% of internet users use RSS. Do you ?

I use Goggle reader. There are many choices.

It is so much quicker then visiting all my favourites and seeing if they have new posts.It saves me time and I still visit most blogs personally or I can skim through relevant posts and then go directly to them.

I also love seeing how much subscribers I have. Have you subscribed Me ? See the little orange button on the top left.

It only takes two clicks and then you will never miss a post.

This video explains how it all works -much better than I can.




If you are reading this in your RSS feed please de-lurk and say hi ...and tell others about your RSS experience. Then spread the word on your blog ...

Sunday 27 April 2008

Weekly Winners

Glad you stopped by...



April 20th - April 26th

Not much happened this week except a lot of rain ...

playing in the kitchen
bucket of fun
magic carpet ride

itty bitty kitty nap
Moto boy
Luv'in my cousin
Remote access


I am out of here
Weekly Winners is hosted by the lovely Lotus @ Sarcastic Mom - head on over and check out her awesome news .


Revive our hearts
Day Six:
"...whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Cor. 10:31b
Recognising Creativity ... my husband is good with wood and also in the garden, over the new 2 months he is going to built the Brothers a play area /sand pit and construct a roof so we have an undercover outdoor area ... so you will have to come back and see the results.
This is what he did the other day ...

to keep the little bugs at bay and away from my computer!


Saturday 26 April 2008

It coulda' been worse -Smiley Saturday

Smiley Saturday is brought to us by Lightening

I always have a lot of reasons to smile ... beats whinging and complaining (though I do my fair share too).

Thursday night we read a few bed time stories and then I nursed the Brothers individually ... but neither went to sleep. So Daddy (DH) put them into their cots anyway.Though we co sleep they go to sleep in the cots first most nights. Except Daddy put J in S's cot with Big Ted (There's a bear in there)

We heard a lot of noise and giggling ... then DH yells out to me - "hey come look at this ...quick"

S was nekkid , cot was sans pillow (now wet ?), blanket and doggy and teddy . Pj's on the floor and nappy. He had also pulled clothes out of the drawer and was happily jumping and smiling ...

J was seated on top of change table - we think he had first used big teddy for a foot hold -not that he needed it. He had pulled out all the things from shelf beneath, ripped things open and thrown the clock (off the wall near change table) to the floor, along with pillow,blanket, small teddy & book from cot. It looked like a bomb scene.

*gasp* It was a blogger mummy's nightmare - I couldn't find the camera ...

I yelled at everyone to find found the camera and I re - clothed S, put them in their own cots -sans Big Ted and waited for the show to begin ... first they cried as I made them lie down.Then I stood watching ...

they are quick learners ! Now S knew how easy it was to escape ...

1..
2...
3...secs
OUT
gets back IN -
S begins again (Left) ............................................. J is on the up

almost over

diving in head first

get out of my way - Up

Out - after pushing S out of the way because they both couldn't climb out at same time
So tell me do they make straight jackets in size 2 ?? ...
It coulda' been worse ...

Did you notice the broken blind slats ...and the fact the cots are a good distance away from wall/curtains ?

Doing the Revive our hearts challenge because it is making my DH smile ...*till this afternoon


Revive our hearts :
Day Five:
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for
necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." Eph. 4:29
Do you praise your husband to his relatives, and yours? Does your husband's mother
know how much you love him?
Yes I am sure she does ...
Today's suggestion is to let them know by letter ...which funnily I thought about yesterday. I will for Mother's Day ... remind me if I forget.



What made you smile this week ...



Friday 25 April 2008

Lest we forget - Grateful Friday

Today is Anzac day - in Australia it is a public holiday.
We pause and remember - the unsung heroes.Today I'm grateful for the Anzacs.



They shall grow not old
As we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them
Not the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
We will remember them
Lest we forget


Revive our hearts ...
Day Four:
"...let him labor, working with his hands what is good..." Eph. 4:28

M - has managed our own business for over 13 years.He worked for himself before that too. Having your own business is hard and constant 52 weeks a year, 6 days a week (Sundays we have always had as Church/family day) and 24/7 on call -though we don't as many after hours interruptions now. We even can get away for a few short breaks with staff holding the fort.

I am in awe of M's motivation to get out of bed each day. Some days I didn't work if I felt like a day off... M never had much opportunity to do this and never complained
(well not too much).M has determination, persistence, strength and good organizational skills. He is good with people, a good listener I never shut up , patient especially with me with all people .

It has been hard work for M since I left almost 2 years when S & J were born.M has still kept the business running. I work from home doing a bit of our tax,wages and some administration.

At times the stress of certain things has caused me to yell at him about paperwork not done.I fuel heated arguments between us over things not done to my expectations (paperwork) but I am learning to accept things more... to ease off my obsessiveness and control.

I am so grateful he has been a hard working man
but still has time to help at home.


Thursday 24 April 2008

Revive our hearts... day 3 & Hot Hunk Thursday

Oh yes ... Widdle Shammock has started a new meme ... a bit of fun sharing eye candy !
You can look but don't touch. I have to share my Dh first ...

Day Three:
"...love suffers long, and is kind..." 1 Cor. 13:4
"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ
Jesus." Phil. 4:19

Love indeed suffers long and is kind
... My husband that is him all over.
I can honestly say he does put my needs above his own most of the time.
At the lowest and worst times in my life he has been there - my rock and to steady me.
When I was labour giving birth to our stillborn daughter he sat beside me on a plain old hard chair all night and held me.When he had hardly slept for 2 days.
Then he did this for me one day recently

Okay ...Tonight I did raise my voice a bit once ... nothing he did though - he was helping me find something someone misplaced somewhere in all the chaos lost. Tomorrow is apublic holiday I get all day to be nice to him and my MIL (it's okay she is just visiting - though she did live with us in her own granny flat for 6
L
O
N
G ... years. I guess I have a lot to thank her for not . Seriously ...she has a good heart and is a lovely Christian woman. She taught my DH well. I might even stoop to sending her a thank you card.

Wednesday 23 April 2008

Revive our hearts... day 2

Day Two: 30-Day Husband Encouragement Challenge for Wives
"...through love serve one another." Gal. 5:13b

My husband has a great attitude about serving me all of us ... I ask and he usually does it. Truly ! He will do anything for anyone and he is a jack of all trades.He has worked our own business for 17 years.He has built us a home before and renovated several.Before the twins were born we worked full-time together (he was sleeping with the BOSS LOL) and we shared all the housework {60/40}.

He vacuums, cleans, washes {I hang it on line 8/10}, helps fold clean clothes, washes the floors {I have weak ankles} and makes our bed with clean sheets every week [wash sheets Sunday and they go back on bed - usually we don't remake till Sunday night] He even loves mowing the lawn .His number is ...oh dang I forget No you can't have his email address.

He helps me cook but can manage a full meal with instructions on his own and he does the dishes ... he changes nappies and even quirts the poop off our cloth nappies (the ones he changes anyway 6/10 on this - loses points for the days I find poopy nappies in the bucket).

He is a KEEPER ! ... what am I doing while he does all of this .... ummm nursing the Brothers individually ...it takes time ... while blogging and barking orders or working on something else *sniggers*.

I know his mother was so xxxxxx (she doesn't swear but I can't think of a word that works ) that he was getting married and she would lose her cleaner ...she credits training him but what she started I improved on. He was born so tidy - he folded the umbilical cord neatly on his way out.

He is great Dad and I couldn't dream of a better man ... okay get back off the floor and stop heaving. It is true ... why would I lie (except straight in bed right ! and I can't even do that well)

Ok, he does have a few unfinished projects onmy to do list but a guy has to eat, sleep and 'go' potty sometimes.

He has other strengths too but I know you are jealous have had enough and I don't want you to break the 10th commandment. ... do not covet.

My challenge today was to serve him ... I gave him a massage with our kick @rse Homedics massager and a different scalp massager. He loved it and I even spent time off line tonight too and he noticed.

See more Revive our heart posts.

Wordless Wednesday - Walk in my Daddy's shoes




Tuesday 22 April 2008

ps ... it's working already

He noticed already and commented "you have been so nice to me the last day" ... as we enjoyed a quick dance to Eddie Rabbitt's You and I . It hasn't been that hard. Shhh ..I haven't told him about it.

what the ? Deadly Animals ...

come to Australia !


I pinched this from Frogdancer
Am I kidding you ?
NO ...

Day 1 - Revive our heart

New DIRECTIONS ...in my marriage : a journey to appreciate and encourage my husband.

Day One:
"The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does
him good and not evil all the days of her life." Prov. 31:11-12
To refresh your memory...here's the 30-Day Encouragement Challenge...for the next 30days:
* You can't say anything negative about your husband ...to your husband...or to anyone else, about your husband.
* Say something that you admire or appreciate about your husband...to your
husband...and to someone else, about your husband!
To help you get started, have you ever thanked your husband
Last night I left my blogging and rss feeds *gasp* to watch a movie with the family .. "The Bee Movie" -funny and different.Then I helped my husband tidy up instead of sitting at computer again.I thanked him before I went to bed and told him I loved him (I do this often but I guess not enough).

This morning I officially started Day 1 ... I woke up and remembered , I jumped out of bed with a spring in my step to go make him a cup of tea in bed ... he was in the shower when I returned but it was the thought that counts.(ps I didn't have time to hop in LOL).He always make me a cup of tea. I thanked him because he is an exceptional fellow and does so much around the house.

It was fitting the Head or Tails this week is Directions - I really took to heart what Skittle has written this week . I could have written this too. For me, too, my blog has become a bit of sore point with my husband - he doesn't like the time I spend online. So it is a struggle because being I feel so alone and isolated at times -it is my lifeline and my sanity. I guess like Skittle I need to chose 'real life' a little more often. So if you see less of me that's why. It isn't a flip of the coin - heads or tails ...


Darling - I love and cherish you in my life thanks for choosing me.

OMG - what a coincidence ... was Googling a song about 'Direction' and thought of Every which way but loose ... (by Eddie Rabbitt who I have never heard of - to be honest but I have heard of his music) -then I started listening to You & I - I loved it ... but not the cheesy Dallas Montage with Patrick Duffy & Victoria Principle . I saw another version with the album cover - Radio Romance - which it what ours was - freaky. Read about it HERE



Monday 21 April 2008

Revive our hearts...

Does your love life marriage need resuscitation ?

Today or tomorrow , I am starting the 30-Day Husband Encouragement Challenge for Wives I found out about from Melissa@Melissa's Idea Garden

Then she was kind enough to email me the pdf link called Revive our hearts...
We're so glad you've decided to accept the "30-Day Encouragement Challenge" to encourage your husband! Your decision means that you truly want to be a blessing in your home. This challenge will also result in spiritual growth in your own life.
It is really not about s e x but making the one you love feel appreciated and encouraged.

I digress to say last week I remember reading this quote ...on this post by Jen @Amazing Trips.Brilliant she is...
Little kids lead to little sex.
And sometimes, a little sex can lead to (more) little kids. (not anymore for me)
I will write some more on the challenge later. I hope I can see the challenge through.