It's fun being a kid!!
One more thing, you can know follow me with Bloglovin'. Follow here:
http://www.bloglovin.com/kristalstrong. Thanks!!
Until next time,
Kristal
7.01.2013
Summer splashing
One fun thing about our drainage issues (ha!), which should be fixed now, is that we have massive puddles after heavy rains. One morning, my dear friend Mia brought me some yummy coffee from our favorite coffee shop/store. While we were out front waving goodbye to her, I let the kids play in the puddle for a bit. Here are the little cuties...
6.27.2013
Saturday digging
We learned pretty quickly that our new home has a drainage problem. Boo! We discovered this during our (ongoing) reno process, but didn't realize how bad it was until after we moved in and found water inside wall. Yikes! Thankfully, our family is incredibly helpful and my father-in-law came down this past weekend to help us address the problem. Robert and Mark worked so hard!! We're pretty sure the problem has been solved and now get to focus on adding landscaping. Yay!! I'm looking forward to that...adding some life to the front of our home.
I got some fun pictures of Collin helping Grandpop and Daddy dig in the dirt.
At this point in my picture taking, because I had quite a few more that I didn't put on here, he was like "Mommy, don't take my picture!". It was funny...and I'm sure foreshadowing. :)
Until next time,
Kristal
I got some fun pictures of Collin helping Grandpop and Daddy dig in the dirt.
Until next time,
Kristal
6.25.2013
7 years and still in love
Yesterday, Robert and I celebrated our 7 year wedding anniversary. I can't believe it's been 7 years already! It has gone so fast, yet when I reflect on the last 7 years, I'm amazed at the changes we've experienced in our lives. We started out as two young college graduates and became parents to two beautiful children. I truly find myself loving Robert more and more everyday. Sure, we have bad days...sometimes lots of them in a row. But God has confirmed, in many different ways, through the years that Robert is the perfect man for me. I am so grateful and blessed!
I have found myself reflecting a lot on our marriage and how we have grown together and what we have learned, so far, on this journey. I'm sure if you asked us separately, we'd have different things we have learned. But, I'm sure there would be some of the same, too. I thought I'd take a minute to share some of those things that I have personally learned, and continue to learn, everyday. These are in no particular order....
1. Always give your best. This world is demanding! It wants the best of us all the time. And often, our husbands suffer. They get our leftovers when, really, they should be receiving our best. I'm so thankful I'm able to stay home and raise our children, but let me tell you, there are days I am completely spent. I've reached my limit and just need a break! But, this isn't the fault of my husband. He doesn't deserve to have my stress taken out on him. Sure, we all have off days...that's fine! But as a norm, my husband and family need to receive the best of me.
2. Don't stop dating. It's easy to fall into a routine after your married and stop dating each other. I've learned how important it is to keep dating my husband. When I say dating, I don't solely mean fancy dinners out or Friday night movies. Sure, those have their place and are very important. But, I'm talking about getting to know my husband, his fears, his dreams, etc. Although some aspects of us are the same as the day we got married, we have both grown and changed as individuals and I never want to miss finding out who my husband is becoming just because I've stopped dating him.
3. Give grace. We all mess up. We're going to let each other down. Expectations will not be met. But give grace! And give grace some more when you don't want to or don't think you can. Someday you'll need grace, too.
4. Strive to understand, not be understood. I have learned, and continue to learn everyday, that selfishness has no place in marriage, or any relationship for that matter. The minute I stop trying to "hound my point home" or "make him get it" and try to look at things from his perspective, he gets it. Or at least understands where I'm coming from.
5. Communicate! I cannot read his mind, he cannot read mine. Even when I wish so badly that after all these years he would just know, he doesn't. And neither do I. It is so important to say exactly how you feel or what you mean and not expect him/her to just know. And don't beat around the bush either. Just say it!
6. Ask God to continually make you fall in love with your husband. Satan wants nothing more than to tear family's apart. A form of "insurance" to prevent that from happening is never falling out of love with your husband. Love is a choice. And it's very important not to forget about those little things that brought you together in the first place.
7. Be his biggest fan. The world is rough, harsh, critical, demanding and so many other things. He needs to know I'm in his corner, behind him all the way, no matter what. I might be the only encouragement he receives today or tomorrow or the next day. He needs a cheerleader and I'm just the girl for the job!
So, those are some things I'm learning everyday. I know I have a lot more to learn, too. I'm so thankful for our marriage, imperfections and all. He's a wonderful husband and father and I'm blessed to be his wife!
I have found myself reflecting a lot on our marriage and how we have grown together and what we have learned, so far, on this journey. I'm sure if you asked us separately, we'd have different things we have learned. But, I'm sure there would be some of the same, too. I thought I'd take a minute to share some of those things that I have personally learned, and continue to learn, everyday. These are in no particular order....
1. Always give your best. This world is demanding! It wants the best of us all the time. And often, our husbands suffer. They get our leftovers when, really, they should be receiving our best. I'm so thankful I'm able to stay home and raise our children, but let me tell you, there are days I am completely spent. I've reached my limit and just need a break! But, this isn't the fault of my husband. He doesn't deserve to have my stress taken out on him. Sure, we all have off days...that's fine! But as a norm, my husband and family need to receive the best of me.
2. Don't stop dating. It's easy to fall into a routine after your married and stop dating each other. I've learned how important it is to keep dating my husband. When I say dating, I don't solely mean fancy dinners out or Friday night movies. Sure, those have their place and are very important. But, I'm talking about getting to know my husband, his fears, his dreams, etc. Although some aspects of us are the same as the day we got married, we have both grown and changed as individuals and I never want to miss finding out who my husband is becoming just because I've stopped dating him.
3. Give grace. We all mess up. We're going to let each other down. Expectations will not be met. But give grace! And give grace some more when you don't want to or don't think you can. Someday you'll need grace, too.
4. Strive to understand, not be understood. I have learned, and continue to learn everyday, that selfishness has no place in marriage, or any relationship for that matter. The minute I stop trying to "hound my point home" or "make him get it" and try to look at things from his perspective, he gets it. Or at least understands where I'm coming from.
5. Communicate! I cannot read his mind, he cannot read mine. Even when I wish so badly that after all these years he would just know, he doesn't. And neither do I. It is so important to say exactly how you feel or what you mean and not expect him/her to just know. And don't beat around the bush either. Just say it!
6. Ask God to continually make you fall in love with your husband. Satan wants nothing more than to tear family's apart. A form of "insurance" to prevent that from happening is never falling out of love with your husband. Love is a choice. And it's very important not to forget about those little things that brought you together in the first place.
7. Be his biggest fan. The world is rough, harsh, critical, demanding and so many other things. He needs to know I'm in his corner, behind him all the way, no matter what. I might be the only encouragement he receives today or tomorrow or the next day. He needs a cheerleader and I'm just the girl for the job!
So, those are some things I'm learning everyday. I know I have a lot more to learn, too. I'm so thankful for our marriage, imperfections and all. He's a wonderful husband and father and I'm blessed to be his wife!
Until next time,
Kristal
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
