~ My Husband Rocks! ~ breaking the cycle . . .

Click here to read about why I started MHR Fridays!

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If you've never read the book Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, I would highly recommend it. In the first couple of chapters, Dr. E describes what he calls the "crazy cycle" in which a husband and wife often find themselves. Basically it starts out with the wife being disrespectful to her husband, so he responds by being unloving, which only inspires her to be more disrespectful, and you see how it can all go downhill from there. Anyone who has ever been married can understand how easy it is to find oneself on this cycle, and it is not a fun ride!

Well, last night I got the cycle spinning but good. I was being a first-class brat, and at first, Austin spun right along with me. But then his whole demeanor changed. He made the concious decision to be the bigger person, and he loved me (in my own "language") in spite of my nasty, spiteful, disrespectful attitude.

It's heartbreakingly wonderful to be loved like that!

Why does your spouse rock this week?

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I am the only person who has the ability to add blogs to the MHR blogroll. If you are a MHR blogger, and have not been added to the blogroll, plase comment or e-mail me at katylinvw{at}yahoo{dot}com and I will gladly add you to our little group!!!

(if you would like to add the MHR Fridays button to your sidebar, use this code ).

<a href="http://honestandlasting.blogspot.com/2008/06/my-husband-rocks-friday.html"><img src="http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn135/katylinvw/mosaicmhrf.jpg"/></a>

If you're not a blogger, but still want the world to know about your amazing husband (or wife, or husband to be, or wife to be, etc.) leave a shout-out in the form of a comment! If you're unable to comment, e-mail me at katylinvw [at] yahoo [dot] com and I'll add your shout out to this post!

As always, on Fridays Union 28 will refund your shipping on any order of two or more items if you mention the great adventure and ~my husband rocks! Fridays~ in the "how did you hear about us?" section of your order form, so run on over there and check them out, too! Thank you Union 28!

Hope you all have a fantastic Friday, and a wonderful weekend!

How cute is this?

I love this song, too, so that helps :)



Happy Tuesday,

~ My Husband Rocks! ~ Excited!!!

Click here to read about why I started MHR Fridays!

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You remember a few weeks ago, I talked about how I love Austin's passion? This week's reason has a lot to do with that, it's basically the outward expression of his passion, and it is so much fun to live with and be around and love someone who is excited about the future, excited about what this next year will bring, but most of all excited about serving the Lord and seeing many people come to Christ!

I have always known that he loves the Lord (it would have been a "deal-breaker" for me if he didn't), but the newness in the excitement he has for this incredible adventure we're undertaking is absolutely thrilling! I'm pretty excited about it, too, just in case you couldn't tell :)

Why does your spouse rock this week?

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I am the only person who has the ability to add blogs to the MHR blogroll. If you are a MHR blogger, and have not been added to the blogroll, plase comment or e-mail me at katylinvw{at}yahoo{dot}com and I will gladly add you to our little group!!!

(if you would like to add the MHR Fridays button to your sidebar, use this code ).

<a href="http://honestandlasting.blogspot.com/2008/06/my-husband-rocks-friday.html"><img src="http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn135/katylinvw/mosaicmhrf.jpg"/></a>

If you're not a blogger, but still want the world to know about your amazing husband (or wife, or husband to be, or wife to be, etc.) leave a shout-out in the form of a comment! If you're unable to comment, e-mail me at katylinvw [at] yahoo [dot] com and I'll add your shout out to this post!

As always, on Fridays Union 28 will refund your shipping on any order of two or more items if you mention the great adventure and ~my husband rocks! Fridays~ in the "how did you hear about us?" section of your order form, so run on over there and check them out, too! Thank you Union 28!

Hope you all have a fantastic Friday, and a wonderful weekend!

A Priveledge to Suffer for Him

Ummm . . . wow! I just listened to this episode of Focus on the Family, and I am encouraged and blown away and challenged to live for Christ! If Ken Hutcherson can be such a bright light for Jesus with all that he is going through, how can I NOT be, as blessed as I am?

Definitely check it out, just click here, then click on the link that says "Listen Now" to hear this incredible story.

<3,

Don't worry . . . I'm still alive . . . I think . . .

Okay, so I know I have been M.I.A. for the past couple of weeks, and I am very sorry! I also know that I started this stellar idea of the 26 days of Thanksgiving, and only got about halfway through (if that), so I am sorry to those of you who were waiting with baited breath for "K" through "Z." I may finish those at some point, but with the crazy whirlwind of my life at this point, I'm not making any promises!

I have so much to tell you all, and so many incredible stories to share, so stay tuned, and I will post as much as I can as soon as possible. I also have the November newsletter up on the Burden Bearers International blog, so be sure to hop over and take a look at that!

I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving, and that you're enjoying a wonderful Christmas season!

:),

~ My Husband Rocks! ~ You learn something new everyday :)

Click here to read about why I started MHR Fridays!

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One thing I love about being married in general, and being married to Austin specifically, is how it seems to me that almost every day I learn something about his character or preferences or personality quirks that I was either unaware of, or that have recently developed.

I think it is so incredible to watch this wonderful man, closer to me than anyone else in the world, grow and change and reveal more and more to me. For example, I found out this week that he loves Christmas. This may seem very obvious, and I knew that he liked it well enough, but I never knew that he loved it! And that makes me excited because I love Christmas, too!

Another interesting thing that I am beginning to recognize in myself is the way that I perceive many of his characteristics now versus how I saw them earlier in our relationship. A very wise friend reminded me this week that every foible or quirk about your spouse that frustrates you or drives you crazy is just the flip-side of something that made you fall in love with him in the first place! This has really helped me this week when I have been tempted to give into my stressed-out-ness and just snap :) lol!

What are some of the things that you are learning about your spouse these days?

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I am the only person who has the ability to add blogs to the MHR blogroll. If you are a MHR blogger, and have not been added to the blogroll, plase comment or e-mail me at katylinvw{at}yahoo{dot}com and I will gladly add you to our little group!!!

(if you would like to add the MHR Fridays button to your sidebar, use this code ).

<a href="http://honestandlasting.blogspot.com/2008/06/my-husband-rocks-friday.html"><img src="http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn135/katylinvw/mosaicmhrf.jpg"/></a>

If you're not a blogger, but still want the world to know about your amazing husband (or wife, or husband to be, or wife to be, etc.) leave a shout-out in the form of a comment! If you're unable to comment, e-mail me at katylinvw [at] yahoo [dot] com and I'll add your shout out to this post!

As always, on Fridays Union 28 will refund your shipping on any order of two or more items if you mention the great adventure and ~my husband rocks! Fridays~ in the "how did you hear about us?" section of your order form, so run on over there and check them out, too! Thank you Union 28!

Hope you all have a fantastic Friday, and a wonderful weekend!

~ My Husband Rocks! ~ he loves the Lord

Click here to read about why I started MHR Fridays!

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I think I may have used this reason sometime in the past, but it's one that I just keep coming back to. It's the one that would have been a deal breaker for whether or not we would have ever gotten together, and it's the one that keeps us together even when in our humanness we would just as soon rip each others' heads off!

What has impressed this upon my mind the most this week is in his zeal and passion for being who God wants him to be and doing what God wants him to do and going where God wants him to go. Always. No matter what it costs or who thinks he's crazy. I am convinced that this facet of his character is the one that is the most crucial for the health and happiness of our marriage. If you think I'm crazy, then I'll let someone with a lot more experience and wisdom than myself explain it her way:



Why does your hubby (or wifey :D) rock?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am the only person who has the ability to add blogs to the MHR blogroll. If you are a MHR blogger, and have not been added to the blogroll, plase comment or e-mail me at katylinvw{at}yahoo{dot}com and I will gladly add you to our little group!!!

(if you would like to add the MHR Fridays button to your sidebar, use this code ).

<a href="http://honestandlasting.blogspot.com/2008/06/my-husband-rocks-friday.html"><img src="http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn135/katylinvw/mosaicmhrf.jpg"/></a>

If you're not a blogger, but still want the world to know about your amazing husband (or wife, or husband to be, or wife to be, etc.) leave a shout-out in the form of a comment! If you're unable to comment, e-mail me at katylinvw [at] yahoo [dot] com and I'll add your shout out to this post!

As always, on Fridays Union 28 will refund your shipping on any order of two or more items if you mention the great adventure and ~my husband rocks! Fridays~ in the "how did you hear about us?" section of your order form, so run on over there and check them out, too! Thank you Union 28!

Hope you all have a fantastic Friday, and a wonderful weekend!

Honoring Those Who Serve & An Important Perspective

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all those men and women who serve and have served in our armed forces! Your sacrifices can never be understood by those who have not shared them, but we love you, and appreciate everything you do and have done for the sake of our freedom.

I also thought that today would be a good day to share the following poem. Everywhere you look you see a yellow ribbon, or a bumper sticker proclaiming "Support Our Troops," which are both great reminders and noble sentiments; however, I'm afraid that we've forgotten an important group of people - one that sacrifices just as much at home as our servicemen and women do overseas.

The following was written by one of them:
Do You Know Me?

walking through wal-mart, and around school...
we lock eyes for a moment...
and i smile like i'm supposed to...
but inside i'm begging you to care...
or at least try to understand why my eyes aren't mirroring my smile...

My husband is gone...
fighting for your freedom and security...
So that today... you can go on with your life
Without a thought of uncertainty... or a thought about the actual sacrifice...

You might be numb to that word, "Sacrifice"...
because it's so often linked to men like my husband...
but it echos through my very soul every minute of every day.



because i sacrifice too...
but to say so is needy and weak...
but i want to tell you...
i need to tell you what i sacrifice...

I'm sacrificing my personal sense of security... when i hear a bump in the night, i am left alone to face it...
i'm sacrificing the job i love... taking care of the man i adore with every part of my being...
I'm sacrificing a kiss and a hug at the end of a really long... really bad day...
i'm sacrificing feeling loved, cherished and beautiful when my husband touches me...
i'm sacrificing connecting with him on the level i need to...
i'm sacrificing a helping hand when my child wakes up at 4am...
and my son is sacrificing playtime with daddy...

i'm tired...
i'm overwhelmed...
i feel like a burden to my family...
i'm lonely beyond words...
my bed feels too big...
my home feels empty...
i feel lost...



and i can't make it go away...

no amount of sleep...
no matter how many hugs i get from my family...
no matter how many times i hear it... "The time will fly!"...

it still feels like every day is a lifetime...

all i can do is put on my face...
but it's like the longer i have that face plastered on,
the harder is is to take it off...
and i want to take it off... and just cry...
i ache to weep and get it all out... but i just can't seem to let myself go...

and i can't tell him...
and i can't tell you...
because i have to stay strong...
i have to keep things together...

but do you see me?
please see me...

this is what i sacrifice for you...
you and your damn freedom.

So today, when you thank a soldier, pray for a marine, or salute a sailor, remember the Army/Navy/Marine/Air Force/Coast Guard member's wife and children who live down the street - going through the motions of their day-to-day while aching every second to have their loved ones home - and do what you can to ease their burdens, too :)

Thank you,


P.S. ~ To the author of the poem: Thank you for sharing your heart with us, and thank you for letting me post it here! I love you, and I'm praying for you, and I'm always just a phone call away!

Giving Thanks . . . Alphabetically ~ "J"

Attributes of God
God is our Joy

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 16:11

God is Just

It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice.
Job 34:12

People
Jesus - the Lover of my soul :)
Julie - my sweet friend
Juanita - another wonderful friend

Things
Juice :)
Jambalaya - yummm (have you noticed that most of my "things" are food items, lol)
Jam, Jelly, basically anything you can put on toast

What made your "J" list?


that my heart may sing to you and
not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you
thanks forever.
Psalm 30:12

Giving Thanks . . . Alphabetically ~ "I"

Attributes of God
God is Immortal and Invisible

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17

People
Ian & Ivy - dear, sweet, childhood friends :)

Things
Islands
iWork - it really does :)
Imagination

How many items made your "I" list?


Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men,
Psalm 107:8

Giving Thanks . . . Alphabetically ~ "H"

Attributes of God
God is Holy

Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?
Psalm 77:13

People
Harvey - my Grandpa :)
Austin - my wonderful, handsome husband

Things
Happy laughter
Holding my hubby
Hearing

What hits your "H" list?


Save us, O LORD our God,
and gather us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.
Psalm 106:47

Giving Thanks . . . Alphabetically ~ "G"

Attributes of God
God is Great

For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
Psalm 96:4

God is Good

Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Psalm 34:8

God is Giving

Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.
Acts 14:17

God is Glorious

Praise be to his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen.
Psalm 72:19

People
Geri - my wonderful aunt

Things
Growth - in people, plants, character :)
Giraffes
Girlfriends
Galleries

What garners your gratefullness for the letter "G" list?


I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness
and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
Psalm 7:17

Giving Thanks . . . Alphabetically ~ "F"

Attributes of God
God is Faithful

But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Psalm 86:15

God is Forgiving

You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
Psalm 86:5

People
Family - I have a fantastic family, both immediate and in-laws :)
Florence - my sweet friend
Friends - we have a lot of wonderful friends

Things
Food
Fellowship
Fun
Fall :)

More fabulous "F" lists!!!:


I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.
Psalm 118:21

~ My Husband Rocks! ~ Hard Work & Consideration

Click here to read about why I started MHR Fridays!

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Just when I think my husband could't be more amazing, he goes and knocks my socks off! We are preparing to go into the ministry, and therefore need to get our house on the market ASAP. Most of our projects on the house are done, but there was one room that we have been putting off because we knew it would be a pain in the butt to get done...the dreaded guest bathroom.

We had installed new fixtures into it, but never removed the old plaster and lath or insulated the walls, so we knew that had to be completed, but we also knew it would be a nightmare because the fixtures would have to come back out (except for the bathtub). I was dreading this project sooooooo much, but I knew it needed to get done, and soon, so I was trying to steel myself for the inevitable.

Imagine my surprise, then, when Austin called me at work on Monday to let me know that he and his buddy from work would be taking care of the bathroom this week, so to expect them to be making a mess of our upstairs! He knew that I was terrified of doing that job, so instead of asking me to help him with it, he hired a friend to help him finish it! And on the nights that his friend couldn't be here, he worked by himself!

And this was not an easy job, folks! Heavy lifting, terrible dust, and a very small space in which to work - I just cannot get over how great he is! :) He finished the demo part of the job, and drywall should be in within the next few days! Praise the Lord!

Tell us all about your amazing hubby (or wifey :D)!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am the only person who has the ability to add blogs to the MHR blogroll. If you are a MHR blogger, and have not been added to the blogroll, plase comment or e-mail me at katylinvw{at}yahoo{dot}com and I will gladly add you to our little group!!!

(if you would like to add the MHR Fridays button to your sidebar, use this code ).

<a href="http://honestandlasting.blogspot.com/2008/06/my-husband-rocks-friday.html"><img src="http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn135/katylinvw/mosaicmhrf.jpg"/></a>

If you're not a blogger, but still want the world to know about your amazing husband (or wife, or husband to be, or wife to be, etc.) leave a shout-out in the form of a comment! If you're unable to comment, e-mail me at katylinvw [at] yahoo [dot] com and I'll add your shout out to this post!

As always, on Fridays Union 28 will refund your shipping on any order of two or more items if you mention the great adventure and ~my husband rocks! Fridays~ in the "how did you hear about us?" section of your order form, so run on over there and check them out, too! Thank you Union 28!

Hope you all have a fantastic Friday, and a wonderful weekend!

Giving Thanks . . . Alphabetically ~ "E"

Attributes of God
God is Everlasting

The eternal God is your refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting arms.
He will drive out your enemy before you,
saying, 'Destroy him!'
Deuteronomy 33:27

People
Eric - my cousin!
Emma - my friend :)
Elisabeth - my other cousin!
Erica - my other friend :)

Things
Easter!!! - Praise the Lord!
Encouragement
Eating - it's fun!
Education - where would we be without it?
Eclairs - is an explanation really necessary?
Egg Nog! - love this time of year!
Electricity - thank God for technology
E-mail - what a convenient way to keep in touch!


What earns a spot on your "E" list?


We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds.
Psalm 75:1

Giving Thanks . . . Alphabetically ~ "D"

Attributes of God
God is our Defender

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
Psalm 68:5

God is our Deliverer

O Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer,
who shields my head in the day of battle-
Psalm 140:7

God is Divine

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Romans 1:20

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
2 Peter 1:3

People
Dan - my wonderful dad
Danielle - my sweet friend/honorary family member
Darrell - Austin's grandpa
Doug F. - my cousin
Doug M. - our friend/travelling buddy
Diddy - our adorable pupper dog :)
Doctors - they don't get near enough good press these days

Things
Dance - what a powerful art form
Dogs - they bring such enjoyment to peoples' lives
Dads - biological, foster, adoptive, etc!


Will you detail to us your list for the letter "D"?


I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness
and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
Psalm 7:17