Aniversary Bliss

This past Sunday, David and I celebrated 7 years of marital bliss. Ok well maybe some moments along the way were slightly less blissful then others, but I have to say I have no regrets about who I married. I love him dearly and wouldn't trade him for the world.

Let's face it, raising a good husband is defiantly hard work, who would want to do it twice. (haha)

Anyway to make a 7 year story much shorter, he has "turned out" GREAT!! He is a wonderful husband and father. I am blessed beyond measure.

I won't bore you by waxing eloquent, singing all glory, laud and honor to his wonderful attributes. However, I will just say, as we all know, Love is a choice (thankfully, most days, it's also a feeling), and treating each other with respect and gentleness will go a long way.

David has taught me many valuable lessons in 7 years, one of them being - no matter what the disagreement, there is NEVER a excuse to be mean in your discussions. (OR Loud - yeah I'm still learning - but in my defense I like to see it more as "I'm just being emphatic or passionate")

I think maybe someday I'll write a book - "What I learned about Marriage from My Husband". Ok - maybe not the most catchiest of titles, but seriously good relationships are built, they don't just drop from the sky, and as a reminder, Rome wasn't built in a day. I think it took at least 7 years....??

A few things I have learned about Marriage in the past 7 years.

1. Don't say anything in an argument that is meant to hurt. (you can't take words back once they leave your lips)

2. Compliment each other.

3. Never talk more about him to someone else, then you talk to God about him

(I have found when I am frustrated and want to call someone, if I take 10 minutes to pray for him first, the desire to blab is kind of gone)

4. NEVER have a "heated disagrement" in front of your children (slightly undermines the "united front" concept)

5. Be humble and admit you're (occasionally) wrong.

6. Lighten up, don't sweat the small stuff.

Painting

I have been working on a project - painting our house. I started in the kitchen and went with a olive green. My kitchen space is small, so I didn't have much wall space to paint.

Zak loves to help me with anything I am doing, but he is especially enthralled with painting. I let him help in an area least likely to be seen - behind the stove.
I have started the hall bathroom, but I am going to wait to post pictures until I have it completed. I am waiting for my dear husband to put up the chair rail. Then I will share the pictures.

PA trip in June

In mid June, David needed to make a quick weekend trip to PA for the annual Mission Helps Board meeting. Like last year, we had planned that he would go alone, meaning I still had to take off work as we wouldn't have babysitting. At the last minute, his parents decided to help us with the tickets. What a wonderful treat. The children and I got to go along and we extended it to be able to enjoy a week long vacation. Our parents live about 5 miles from each other. I kept it a secret from my parents that we were coming, and got to give them the surprise of their lives. Needless to say, we had a blast. Unlike some families we know, we actually have a pretty great time when we get together. Someone I work with was shocked to find out that I actually talk to my Mother-in-law at least once a week if not more.

David solving the world's problems with his sister - Joy and bro-in-law -Fred.

In David's family debating various issues from Global warming to the future of the Italian Papist is common. I usually take to the kitchen to find dishes to wash when things heat up.

Mamie and Pappy Evans have swings in their front yard.

A source of much enjoyment.

Is this a little mixed up??

Aren't the grownups supposed to be pushing the kids??

Mamie and Pappy have a wonderful long hill which is great for sledding in the snow. David was having a second childhood re-discovering how to steer a wagon down a hill. Surprisingly he didn't tip it over once. Note the seat cushion to protect the posterior.

Taking time to smell the .... ok it's only petunia's.

Kaaviya Joy, our new niece. Mamie's 11th grandchild. This was the first we got to meet her. She belongs to Joy and Kithir (David's sister and bro-in-law)

Mamie had just gotten 4 wk old chicks when we got there. The kids loved to hold them. And going to the shop to feed them and check them was a frequent occurrence throughout the day.

Sidney and Cedric.

Cedric is 5 y/o and belongs to Fred and Adena Bennett (David's sister). While we were there we had a Birthday party for his little brother who turned 1. Cedric is holding papers which he told his mom he had spent a lot of time preparing. He told her it was a sermon to preach at the Birthday party. (His Dad is a preacher) Sadly he never got around to giving it, I think due to nerves and to many cousins to play with.

Mamie and Sidney (David's Mom)

This is the view from David's parents deck. Gorgeous huh??

I can't tell you how much it made me want to move back to the country. So what if you have to drive a half hour to Wal-mart, it's worth it to have this kind of peaceful existence.

But... as I have learned, God can give peace even with a small square of grass and 8 foot high block walls for a back yard.

My side of the family. In order from Left to Right. Jeffery Gordon, Zak, Sid, Matthew Stinebrickner, Gavin Gordon, Kaylee Stinebrickner.

Dawn and Todd came up from TN, for the board meeting as well. We had a great time together again. I have been very blessed this year as we got to see each other at IHC as well.

My dear pregnant sister, Dawn. She is expecting their 3rd in Aug.

Behind her is my father, looking at something very studiously ??

Having a banana Party on the steps. At the top is Zak, and Jeffery. Below them is Kaylee, Sidney and Matthew. Gavin was somewhere else.