Demonstrating Love

It's a good thing the Valentine festivities around here didn't depend on me this year-- what with being gone most of the week last week, and then not feeling well this week. If it had been up to me the holiday would have been largely ignored, at least in the way of decorations. Laura, however, was on top of things. Shortly after the Christmas decorations came down in early January, she festooned the front door with strings of whimsical paper hearts. I've enjoyed looking at them each time I go through the foyer on my way upstairs.

Then last week the girls made themselves Valentine mailboxes (fashioned of cereal boxes, decorative paper, and ribbon) and hung them in the hall as an invitation for any "interested parties" (i.e. family members) to leave sweet notes or small gifts. Mostly they've had fun surprising each other.

Laura presented each of us with a thoughtful Valentine gift yesterday. Mine was some yummy-smelling refills for my Scentsy. She got her dad a box of candy and her sister an adorable stuffed puppy. She has such a giving heart.

Last night Lyle apologized because he hadn't got me anything. I told him that didn't bother me in the least. "Remember the Starbucks you left on my desk earlier in the month? That says 'I love you' better than you buying me something just because the stores say you should!"

I still don't feel much like celebrating today, but that's okay. When you truly love someone Valentine's Day isn't much different than any other day of the year. We can go out for dinner, or buy candy or flowers... or even a Starbucks... any time we want to!

Training Trip

This week I'm in Colorado to network with the other Sonlight consultants, to learn more about upcoming products for 2012, and to get some fresh ideas for the homeschool convention season. I'll be hosting the Sonlight booth at 5 different homeschool conventions this year. I love visiting with fellow homeschoolers and sharing my passion for Sonlight. That's why I become a consultant. However, sometimes I think it would be nice to get to go to a convention as "just an attendee" again. This training time at Sonlight's headquarters has become that "shot in the arm" that I look forward to each winter. It's always an intense few days but I come away refreshed and excited about finishing out the school year, and traveling to my conventions.

There's a good bit of snow on the ground, due to the record-breaking storm they had last weekend, but so far the days have been sunny and relatively warm. As always, the mountains are spectacular.

And now, I'm off to another day of workshops. I'll be back next week.

My Best Friend

I love being married to my best friend. He was my best friend all those years ago when I married him, and he still is. Today, on Marriage Monday at Chrysalis, the topic is "Overcoming Boredom and Apathy." e-Mom asked those of us who have been married for 10 years or more to share our advice:

Keeping family life running smoothly (and paying for it all) takes so much energy that many couples have nothing left over for their friendship. During those stress-filled seasons, boredom and apathy can easily infect a marriage. Have you been there? Are you there now? What are you doing to inject fresh vitality into your relationship?

Having been very happily married for more than 26 years my advice is to make your friendship with your husband your second priority. (Your first priority should, of course, be your relationship with God.) Our lives are very busy. There are always demands on our time and attention. Lyle usually works 50-60 hours per week, sometimes more. However, we still find time to talk and share with each other every day.

Here are some things we do to connect on an on-going basis:

• If he has to work late, I'll go to the print shop to hang out with him. Even if he's so engrossed in a job that he can barely acknowledge I'm there, I still like being there. I take along projects to work on quietly, or if he's working on something I can help with, I jump in to help him. 
• At least once a week we take 20 minutes for a quick "date" in the middle of the day. It just consists of me riding with him to buy a Coke or coffee to go. Then he drops me off at home and he heads back to work.
• At the end of the day we relax together in the family room. Sometimes we watch TV or a movie, but conversation always has priority. If either of us has something on our mind we take time to talk about it.
• We like to go out for breakfast on Saturday mornings. Most Saturdays he has to work, and I usually go with him. In the summer, we get a to-go breakfast and go garage-saling if we have time.
• We text or email each other during the day. Electronic communication is so much more efficient than phone calls when you just have something quick to say.
• We run errands together in the evenings. He goes with me to the grocery store. I go with him to Home Depot. When we have time we like to go to Barnes and Noble just for fun.

We are enjoying this season of life now that our children are old enough to stay home alone. When they were younger we would still do a lot of things on this list, but we took them with us. It was harder to fit in the "just us" time, but we have always had the end-of-the-day conversation time after the kids went to bed.

Sports Fans

Lyle texted me this picture he took at a hockey game he went to last night. His brother had been given four tickets and invited him and a couple other guys to go with him.  It was a first for Lyle-- attending a hockey game, that is. He said it was fun to watch, especially since we had just been ice skating earlier this winter.

I'm not much of a sports fan myself. I mean, I do know the Super Bowl is tomorrow, but I couldn't tell you who is playing. Except I'm pretty sure it's not the Saints (my dad's team) or the 49ers (Lyle's team). I may or may not watch sit through the game, but if I do I'll enjoy the national anthem and then root for the clock as I crochet... or read.

But I digress. This post is meant to be about hockey, not football. So Lyle sent me this picture last night during warm-up. I showed it to the girls, and they said, "But Dad's not in the picture!"

I texted him back that the girls wanted a picture of him with his buddies. "Be sure and lean your heads all together and smile real cheesy for the camera like the girls and their friends do," I told him. Laura thought that was hilarious. She was sure they would get some odd looks if they tried it.

"Yeah, not happenin'" was her dad's response.

I guess "their" team (the Spokane Chiefs) won. Lyle got a coupon for a free chalupa from Taco Bell because they scored at least five goals. Isn't that special?

Coming Up Later This Month!