No Regrets

For so many years, my husband has worked all but one weekend a month.  He lost his job in October and started a new job in November.  Having him home every single weekend is WONDERFUL.  When he was home only one Saturday a month we tried to cram all of our fun things, family events, and major chores into one day.  It was hard and stressful.  We would find our nerves on edge most of the day.  We would not sleep in or lay around and relax on those Saturday mornings, because we felt the clock ticking down toward the end of our only Saturday.  

This morning, we slept in and cuddled.  During the work week we have to be up at 5:30am and we are in the bed by 9:30pm.  I guess, sleeping in until 8:30am does feel like a late morning when you get 3 hours of extra sleep.  I went downstairs and brought back breakfast and coffee.  We propped up on our pillows and enjoyed breakfast and coffee while chatting about our week.  We talked about the week ahead and just enjoyed our time...not rushed and not stressed.

I mentioned in an earlier blog that I had a friend become a widow the week after Christmas.  She is in her mid 30's and her husband was 39.  I have been VERY convicted about my words and actions toward my husband since hearing that news.  I have been made painfully aware of the fact that we are not promised tomorrow and, truthfully, we are not promised the next minute.  I don't want to have regrets in any relationship, but especially in my marriage.  I don't want my husband spending his time at work with a knot in his throat because of me, my attitude, my words, or my actions.  I don't want him waking up with a sense of dread because of me.  I want him to look forward to being around me.  I am blessed to be married to a man who makes certain to appreciate me and to voice that appreciation.  In 20 years with him, I have learned a lot from him about how to treat others.  We talked this morning about how neither of us want regrets if something was to happen to either of us.  We want our marriage to be a joy and not a regret.

I am grateful to have today to spend time with my husband, but I am aware that I need to take time each and every day to bless him, encourage him, and love him.  No regrets....that is my new motto in my marriage.

Thankful Thursday

Today, I am thankful for my husband.  His 50th birthday is this Saturday.  I have spent about half my life with him and would not be who I am today had I not.  He is a gentle soul that brings a sense of calmness in every situation.  He is possibly the kindest person I have ever known.  He did not have a wonderful childhood and lost his daddy when he was young.  So many people these days blame all of their faults on having a bad childhood, not having a father figure, or not having the right education.  My husband has never done any of that.  When he was 14, his dad passed away after years of battling alcoholism.  My husband had seen firsthand what that disease does to a man, a family, but mainly a little boy.  Not long after losing his daddy, my husband quit school to go to work.  At the age of 40 he went back to school to get his GED and passed with FLYING COLORS!  It was my daddy's greatest desire for him.  He had encouraged him to get his GED and a year before my daddy passed away, that is exactly what he did.  My husband is a hardworking man that truly has that "whatever it takes to provide" mentality.  He has never complained about being the breadwinner. He loves me unconditionally and makes sure to show his love each day.  He is a wonderful father to our two children who are now teenagers.  Our daughter recently said that she hopes to marry a man that is as nice and as Godly as her daddy.  Our son thinks that anything that is broken can certainly be fixed by his daddy, and I have to agree.  My husband has chosen to break many   patterns from his past and from his lineage so that our children would have good memories, know that they are loved, and believe in themselves.  He is living proof that you can rise above what you experience as you grow up.  As I sit and type this, I realize yet again how blessed I am that I share this life with him.  God truly blessed me the day that I introduced myself to him and only 6 months later married him.