Little Reminders - 31 Days of Loving That Man

I love Shutterfly!

Love Love Love it!

I received a coupon for a free coffee mug. I debated and debated on what I would do with the Mug. I should have used the offer as a gift for some one else, but decided to be a little bit selfish. I created one for myself.

I liked the idea of having something to sip my hot apple cider in that made me smile.  Like that piece of yarn you tie around your finger to remember something important, this mug reminds me of the lives I hold dear!

Reminders are good things, like my wedding ring that reminds me of the the day I said I do. Or better yet, this picture of us, 7 years after we said I do, sitting in a park watching a play! These are both amazing reminders of the love we share.  Like most of us women, I work hard during my days, which often leaves me less than desirable when I return home. In the evenings, I realize that Ryan often ends up getting what is left over, when my mind finally shuts down from the thoughts of the day.  Reminders of our Love keep me focused, and when I am focused I am at my best, which helps me give my best to Ryan.

What reminders do you have of your Love?

7 Things I Love about this Man - Part 1 - 31 Days of Loving that Man

Somedays things are just hard. Everything just goes wrong, or I end up on my pity pot, and I can't quite find the sunshine. God has blessed me with such an amazing man, and in the midst of life it helps to highlight some specific things about Ryan that I Love:

1. He faithfully attends and participates in a Men's Bible Study. I love that he prioritizes learning more about his faith with a group of godly men.

2. He waits up to greet me when I get home from my Tuesday Night Bible Study.

3. He honors his relationship with his Mother, and ensures that she stays a priority in our busy lives.

4. He is a die hard Angel's Fan. His excitement makes my heart happy.

5. He goes all in with me on my crazy date night ideas. Nothing like being pulled through a monster fog filled Halloween maze to prove that you love your wife! HA!

6. He lets me rest when I can't keep going.

7. He expresses his appreciation for the little things I do.

Next time Life gets to you, and it feels like your Hubby is on an opposing team, take a moment and list 7 things you Love about him!

What 7 things can you think of right now?

Loving that Man Play List - 31 Days of Loving that Man

Scary Date Night - 31 Days of Loving that Man

I love me a good scary movie. In fact the creepier, darker, scarier, the better.  October is the perfect time of year to celebrate this scary affliction of mine. The changes in weather (unless you live near us in Southern California where we are still enjoying summer), the changes in daylight, the evening fog that starts to roll in. It just the perfect season for something a bit wicked. An almost perfect October Friday night would include my hubby, my puppies, a blanket or two and a most wonderfully scary movie to hide from.

What would be The Perfect Friday Night you ask? Well that would be.....A Scary Date Night.

Date Nights are great opportunities to cultivate an on purpose connection with your partner in crime. Especially after busy weeks and crazy lives.  I try my best to plan something at least once a month for us to do that is out of the ordinary day to day.  One of our date nights this month was to visit the Queen Mary and her Dark Harbor event. We invited some of our close friends to join us, because there could be nothing better than screaming as a group, right?

We started our evening with a yummy meal at Islands, and carpooled down to the Queen Mary.

I haven't decided which was scarier the monsters we found in the 6 scary mazes, or our friend Andy...You can decide.

There are lots of ways to spice up romance, one great way is to find yourself wrapped up in your husbands arms as scary monsters jump out at you! 

Oh Andy...your a Scary Boy!!

There is nothing better than finding another married couple to pal around with! The Youngs are just the amazing!! We value that they love our Jesus, and each other!

Then there are lifetime friendships, like the one I have with Paul (The dude on the right below). It so wonderful to have friends that support your marriage, not just your friendship!

The moral of this story....
Google something local that might scare your blood into pumping a little faster, grab on to the man of yours, and celebrate the season!

His Details - 31 Days of Loving that Man

The description of the Proverbs 31 Woman is a verse that resonates within my DNA. I just know that she and I would be fast friends, although I might be a little envious of her at times. I mean...she has her stuff together. 

As I focus on loving Ryan well, one verse stands out, to do him good. 

One easy way for me to accomplish this, is to keep track of his details.  Details for making doctors appointments, insurance changes, car registration, and other miscellaneous facts about this XY Chromosome man of mine. There are lots of great tools out there to keep this information together.  Depending on the type of information and the level of security around it, I have used a few different options. You can use a home management notebook, a planner, index cards in your wallet, or the multitude of software options like phone apps or spreadsheets. I find the most useful are the options that I can keep with me for moments When Toilets Attack or other such activities that come from being married to a cute boy. 

Here is the basic information I keep handy.

What information do you keep handy?

The Number 1 Thing - 31 Days of Loving That Man

The number one way I can love my husband is by Praying for him. 

Prayer changes hearts. It changes lives. When I think of all the ways I have been prayed for, and the ways God has showed up, my heart has been forever changed. I have prayed for Ryan throughout our marriage. I can remember praying in the days before our wedding. Other times, I’ve prayed in frustration while arguing, for safety while driving to work, or prayers for healing when cancer was discovered for third time in his skull. God has been so very faithful to the desires of my heart.

In recent years a new focus on prayer has emerged in the Christian community. A focus on praying for God’s will to influence our lives. After hearing more about this, I thought what better way to lift up my husband in prayer, thank to pray specific verses and allow God’s words, his thoughts, his wants, to direct my prayers.

In an effort to help organize my prayer time, I picked themes and verses that match the letters in our Last Name.

It looks something like this. 

Seek:

Psalm 119:10 - I Seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.

I pray that Ryan is always seeking the Lord in all that he does.

Character:

Romans 5: 2-4 – And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope.

I pray that Ryan’s strong character stays grounded in the Lord, in the small trials of life to the life altering decisions. I pray that he perseveres and finds hope.

Hear:

Matthew 11:15 – Whoever has ears let them hear.

I pray that Ryan hears the Lord. The he has moments in his day for reflection and quiet, that he can by moved by the spirit.

Acknowledge

Proverbs 3:6 – In all ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your path.

I pray for courage, that Ryan will be brave enough to boldly acknowledge who his Lord is. Ryan stands firm and openly in his faith. It’s one of the very reasons I fell in love with him. I pray that this never changes.

Ask

Matthew 7:7 – Ask, and it will be given to you

I pray that Ryan seeks openly the grace and gifts of our God. I pray that he is in constant conversation with our Lord, and that he lifts his needs and wants to the almighty with faith that it will be provided.

Follow

Matthew 4:19 – and he said to them “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men”

I pray that as Ryan follows his Lord, that others around whim will be influenced. That through Ryans actions others will come to know, love an find salvation in Jesus.

These are the prayers of my heart during October, and for all of my days married to this man.

What prayers to you have for yours?

We say I do - Welcome to 31 Days of Loving That Man

Welcome to my series as part of 31 Days, a writing Challenge.

We say I do to love, to honor, to cherish, and to be faithful to another living, breathing being. We say I do, us, girls, women, fiancés, brides, wives. We say I do, just as generations of females before us and hitch our beautiful souls to our handsome men with amazing hopes and dreams. And life happens. 

Seven and a half years of life for me to be exact. Years full of laughter, tears, sickness, health, anger, and compassion. Years of success and failures that have changed our relationship. From career choices to family relationships our marriage has experienced the growth pains of change with the distinct sweetness of compassion and grace.  These years have changed us as individuals. The newness of romance has been shed to reveal a steadfast love. What was once the clash of a volcano and tornado in heated disagreement has evolved into a much more productive pattern of resolving conflict. More importantly we have learned to lean on the sacred knowledge that God has hope for our marriage. 

In the movie "The 7 Year Itch" a faithful husband is tempted by the irresistible Marilyn Monroe. I have had a girl crush on Marilyn for most of my adult life.  To avoid sounding pedestrian and over promoting the importance of feminine wiles, I write this while working as a technical project manager in a predominately male IT Shop. I pride myself in successfully navigating the corporate landscape with my brain rather than my body.  However, when it comes to my marriage, my relationship with my number one man, my  goal is to keep his attention mind, body and soul. Lets face it the seven year itch isn't just a movie, and I want to honor our commitment until death do us part. 

If you have been married for 1 day or 50 years, its an important reminder and exciting endeavor to love our men with the intentions of our vows. Focusing on topics that are hard to learn other times too easily forgotten, some areas will be silly, some soul searching. Doesn't that describe the best love stories especially when they are our own?? Join me won't you, as I focus on some areas of value when it comes to loving that man of yours.