Encouraging the Husbands

So day 3 is today and I still don't feel like I'm doing a good job of encouraging Scott. There are so many excuses but the bottom line is I need to try harder. I am looking forward to tomorrow because this is something I try anyway but it normally gets left behind in the craziness of our days. If any of you have joined the challenge, let me know how it's going for you! Tomorrow's challenge is this:
Day Four:
" . . . let him labor, working with his hands what is good . . . " Eph. 4:28

We are all accountable for the things we say, both negative and positive words. Have you embraced the challenge to speak only positive things to your husband and to others about him? Here's a suggestion that touches the core of your husband's world.

Some women take their husband's career for granted, and they show it in many ways. Do you "dump" on your husband at the end of the workday, or do you strengthen and encourage him with your words? A wise wife will make her husband feel that she values and appreciates his work. Let him know that you are glad he is a hard worker. Take opportunities to praise his diligence and resourcefulness to others.

If your husband is out of work, unable to work, or refuses to work, you'll need to be more creative. Praise him for a character quality that you see in him that would be a vital part of a successful career—such as persistence, decisiveness, strength, an analytical mind, organizational skills, good with people, good listener, determination, etc.

Scott works so hard at his job and I know it's something I could never do. I just don't think I'd ever in a million years be able to read a blue print. Then if I did figure it out, what to do from there and not burn places down for wiring things wrong!! I am so thankful that he goes to work and works hard so that I can raise our children! Thanks Scott for all you do! I love you!

Busy Weekend!

I forgot to include the link to the 30 day challenge. http://www.reviveourhearts.com/downloads/?id=9471. This is the site with the challenge. I am looking forward to today when we actually have more than 5 minutes without kids interrupting so I can try day 2!!

This weekend has been a very fun and very busy! It started by carving a pumpkin with Cody's class on Friday morning. I had a group of 5 kids and we had to guess how much the pumpkin weighed, weigh it, guess how many seeds there were, then count and finally carve a face and name it! The kids had a blast but I only got 1 picture because I didn't want to get my camera all gross! There were over 470 seeds. That's pretty much a guess because I felt like we were running out of time so the kids counted groups of 10. Some didn't really want to so it's anyone's guess whether there were 10 in their piles or not!!! I'm so thankful that I'm able to stay home so I can participate in things like this!! That night we were supposed to go to a football game because it was Bauerwood night but we decided not to because it had rained all day. The kids were disappointed but we still had a great weekend.

Saturday we made up not going to the game by going to see High School Musical 3. It was OK, but I was reminded why we don't go to movies very often! We went to the matinee and it still cost $26 for all 4 of our tickets!! After the movie, we came home and carved pumpkins. Megan's says trick or treat and Cody designed his own from better homes and gardens site. He picked everything that looked like fire because we couldn't find a firefighter pattern. After carving pumpkins, I went to a benefit for my friend Kristin who lost her husband in June. Ryan's work, 5/3, put on a concert with a silent auction to help raise money for her! It was a little different than what I'm used to doing, but it was fun going with friends! Scott and I had a good laugh at the fact I was leaving the house at 8 when we are normally home for the night at that time! Below are a few pictures of the 3 pumpkins we carved this weekend!

30-Day Husband Encouragement Challenge

I found this on another blog and found this to be a great idea! It's a 30 day challenge to encourage your husband instead of being discouraging. I know I am not the greatest and seeing the best of everything but I do love Scott with all my heart and am so thankful I made a decision to switch high schools, which is where I ended up meeting Scott. I can't imagine what life would be like without Scott in my life. I'm getting to the point in my life where Scott and I will have been together more than apart. We started dating our Sophomore year of high school and have been married for 9 1/2 years. The past 13 years have had many highs and a lows but Scott's always been there for me no matter what! I am joining this 30 day challenge and will try my hardest to do this for Scott but also my children as well! Let me know if you are joining this as well! It is such a great thing to do!!! Following is the first day's expectations:


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 30 days:

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 for "choosing you" above all other women? He found you attractive as a person, and appreciated you. Though many circumstances in your marriage may have changed, let your husband know that you are glad God led you together, and that you want to be a blessing to him for the rest of your marriage. Let him know that he can trust you to be in his corner.

One of the best opportunities to express your gratitude is first thing in the morning. How do you greet your husband each morning? Is he confident in your love? Give him a "wake up call" that he'll never forget-a big "I love you" and an "I'm so glad I'm your wife!"

Post Op Appointment

All went well at my post-op. I have been experiencing some different pain the last 2days that the doctor says is related to my surgery I had when I was little. They put a valve in when they did that surgery that keeps the stuff in the stomach. Since I had surgery, it's staying closed longer because the stomach is staying fuller longer. This creates an awful pain in my chest that woke me up early Sunday morning. The doctor says this will eventually work itself out. I also have not been keeping too much down yet and so I need to try Metamucil type medicine to see if that helps. Other than that, he said everything's looking well! Thanks again for your prayers and help!!!

Soccer and Hayride Pictures

Life is Finally Slowing down!

Saturday was the last game of the season! It starts again in April but I am ready for a break. The last 7 weeks have been crazy! We had Soccer practice on Monday and Tuesday, Awana on Wednesday, 2 games on Saturday and church twice on Sunday. I know we're not the only ones with that crazy of a schedule, but it gets exhausting after a while! Both kids did really well on Saturday. Megan scored her 2nd goal! She was so excited and it made it even better when she had 9 people cheering for her! Megan's teacher came along with Aunt Kim, Jessie and Grandma T., and Grandma and Grandpa VE. There was a very loud cheer when she scored!! The pictures below are of Megan's goal going in and Cody getting ready for the ball to be thrown in. Anyone else think the kids in the wrong sport getting ready like that?!

On Friday we went to a hayride and bonfire with our Pointe Group. The kids and Scott really are the only ones who did anything. I wasn't feeling well so I went home and joined them for the bonfire. The kids seemed to have lots of fun and needed a shower when we got home to get the hay off.

After the games on Saturday we went to Gemmens so Scott could get things to do work at a friends house. When we pulled in, there was a few things for the kids to do in the parking lot so we stayed outside while Scott ran in. The kids enjoyed the firetruck, monster truck and especially the moon bounce! It was better than shopping in Gemmens with 2 kids!!!

I am starting to feel better each day and hopefully it's only a matter of time before I feel better completely! Thank you all for your prayers and help! I thought things would be so different than how they turned out so I needed some extra help! Thanks again!

Great Song

I was reading another blog this morning and came across this song. Wow is this a great reminder! Enjoy!

Soccer and Rambling

Saturday was the kids soccer games. Sorry no pictures the camera's up stairs and I'm not going to get it now! The kids did very well and had tons of fans on Saturday. Cody is still disappointed that he doesn't get to play in the rain! Both Megan and Cody were very tired from running all over the field on such a nice warm day! They both got pumpkins at the end of Cody's game from Grandma and Grandpa T. They are giant pumpkins and Cody keeps asking when he can carve them. He doesn't quite get how far away Halloween is. Both kids have their outfits picked out and Cody actually has 2! 1 for school and 1 for at night! He couldn't decide so he's being both, saving the warmest for at night.

As for me, I am starting to feel somewhat better. There's an incision below where my ribs join that is bugging me the most. Any time I sit up right, it stretches and really hurts. The recovery time is driving me nuts! I had it all planned so I'd be better by yesterday so today would be no problem taking care of the kids by myself! Of course my plans may have been a little ambitious seeing how I was cut open in 4 different areas and a piece of me taken out. Live and learn! Thanks again for all your prayers! I forgot to tell Kristin thanks for filling in on Thursday!

Surgery

Surgery went well but waking up did not. I have never before responded to the anesthesia like that before. The medicine made me so sick I was dry heaving/throwing up from the time I left the recovery room until about 10 pm. That was definitely not in my plans! I had the whole night planned out including Scott finishing his day at work and going to a meeting to my mom watching a volleyball game! Thanks Kristin and Katie for filling in for me on Thursday. It was nice to know even though things weren't going as planned, I had great friends filling in for me. My mom was great and left at 7 to get the kids and put them to bed. I finally left the hospital about 8 pm, 4 hours later than planned! I did get downstairs this morning to update but I am very tender and this will be my one trip down! Thank you all for your prayers and help! I appreciate everything you've all done!! It will be a couple more days before I update on the soccer games!

Out of Surgery

I just talked to Scott; Kelly is out of surgery. Everything went as planned and really well. She will be in recovery for about 45 minutes before they thought she would start waking up.

Kristin

Surgery

As many of you know, I am having surgery tomorrow at 12:30 pm. Please pray that all goes well and there's no complications. I am pretty calm about this but the closer it's getting, the more nervous I get. I have been getting sicker each week and now almost everything I eat makes me sick. I have a lot of great people offering to help! My mom is taking the day off to take care of me so Scott can work before and after the surgery. Kristin and Katie are getting the kids after school and my friend Mandy is bringing a meal on Friday. Jen was going to on Thursday but the surgery's so late I didn't think I'd be eating. I feel so blessed to have such great family and friends willing to help out! Thanks everyone for your help, I'll update as soon as I'm feeling better!

Goal!! (#2)

This week was Megan's turn to get her goal! She has been so good this year and so close to getting her first goal. Last week Aunt Sara and Uncle James watched Cody get his first goal and Megan told them that she'd get one this week when they came to watch her. They are good luck for the kids! She was so happy when she got it, it was so cute.

Cody didn't do as well this week in his game. It was like he was in slow motion! He would run and then just stop after a little while. I don't know if it's because he was up so late the night before watching the game. Maybe next week, he'll have a little more energy! He was so funny though yesterday. Those who know him well, knows that he will say things that you just laugh at! Yesterday he got to his game and was playing against a kid in his class, Brock. Brock's mom saw Cody and said hi. Cody looked at her and said how did you recognize me with my gloves on? It's like he thought they made him look completely different or something! After Megan's game, he was talking about his goal. He told us that the ball just popped out in front of him and he decided he'd get a point for his teammates! We laughed so hard and laughed even harder when he asked Megan if she decided to get a point for her teammates also! Hope you all got a few laughs in from him!!

Homecoming

Tonight was the Jenison's homecoming game. We watched the parade after school and forgot the camera. It really wasn't much but it still amazes me that in the short amount of time the parade is, the kids still end up with a bunch of candy! After that we went to eat and then went back to the high school to watch the game. Megan and I went to a tastefully simple party and then joined the boys at halftime. I really don't think I could've taken much more than that. We left with almost 9 minutes left in the last quarter and it was almost 9:45. Cody has a soccer game in less than 12 hours! He should be lots of fun in the morning. When we left the game, Jenison was losing 30-13, they scored the first 13 pts and then apparently decided they were done! It was kind of funny going to a homecoming game for a high school we didn't go to, but they kids enjoyed themselves and that's all that matters right? Stay tuned for pictures of the games tomorrow, maybe we'll actually do things right and get pictures of Megan with our camera for once!