The Marriage Blog Week in Review for December 3-9

It’s that time of year…the busy time. (Busier than usual anyway.) Find you have limited time to keep up on all the blogs you want to read? That’s what makes Week in Reviews invaluable. They’re your key to staying in tune with what Karri, Heather, and I wrote about last week in the Marriage blog. Monday, December 3 All I Want for Christmas… Since Heather and her family were assaulted with health problems throughout the year, all she wants is to enjoy her work at Families.com without anymore trips to the doctor interrupting it! For Men Who Do Not Wear … Continue reading

My Mommy Hung the Moon

My Mommy Hung the Moon. Do book titles get any better that? The only thing better would be if your kid actually uttered those five validating words… and meant it. Lucky for me, my child actually does… sometimes… when she’s well-rested, well-fed, and I’ve just played Guess Who? with her for the bazillionth time and agreed to endure combat “just one more little time, Mommy, please, please, please!” Okay, so the words, “My mommy hung the moon,” have never passed her lips, but when the stars are aligned just right, the sentiment is there, and she is not afraid to … Continue reading

What Would You Force Your Spouse To Do?

I know the word “force” seems a little strong, and generally speaking in a healthy marriage you’d never think of “forcing” your spouse to do anything, but there could come a time when force is needed. For instance, say your spouse was witness to some injustice, either at work or on the streets, but they were afraid of speaking up. You know speaking up’s the right thing to do, but you can’t seem to convince them. Until you get the bright idea to force them to, either by driving them to the police station or setting up a meeting with … Continue reading

Rain or Shine, My Pets Are There

This hasn’t been a very easy year for me. In fact, of all my years on this Earth to date, this past one has been the most trying by far. And the most blues-filled. One After the Other It started last summer when we tried to move back to Jacksonville. Thankfully plans changed, but instead of life sailing along unencumbered as I’d hoped, I got sick in November –the same week Wayne moved home and we left to go to Denver for Thanksgiving. Then Wayne got sick, and I had a relapse and fell ill again. Come January and February … Continue reading

Can a Job Improve Your Marriage?

Once upon a time over in Pets I wrote about my life as a pets blogger and all the tales I’ve become privy to. People love talking about their fur kids as it is, but when they find out I write about pets? Wow, you should see how much more they open up! Learning I’m also a Marriage blogger doesn’t have quite the same impact. For instance, if someone’s having pet behavior or training problems they ask for my advice. People usually aren’t as eager to admit to problems in their marriages. However, one thing I’ve noticed is what a … Continue reading

Belated Christmas Surprise in Bed

This isn’t going to be what you think from first glance. It has nothing to do with nookie. It does involve a belated Christmas gift that was delivered to me in bed, though. In one of the most romantic, delightful, surprising ways. Let’s go back a couple of days. It’ll make more sense why this gesture was even that much more romantic. Christmas Morning in Tears Wayne gave me my Christmas gift early: a digital camera. That was fine. I was tickled pink to get it, even if I went with and it didn’t come as a surprise. However, when … Continue reading

Who Needs a Husband’s Help Christmas Shopping When There’s the Internet?

Last week I griped about how I’m married to a Scrooge and lamented how I’m responsible for making Christmas happen at our house every year by myself. I guess I was feeling sorry for myself when I wrote those because I was stressed. Most of the time everything’s done by now. Decorations have been hung, gifts have been ordered, and this week cards would have been mailed. But I got sick at Thanksgiving, right when Wayne started his three week sabbatical between jobs so we could travel and spend some time together. So instead of doing Christmas I’ve been either … Continue reading

I’m Married to a Scrooge!

Christmas isn’t my favorite holiday, but it ranks up there near the top of the list. Some years I catch the spirit months in advance. Other years, like this one, I’m late getting into the swing of things. (Late by my standards. Normally I catch it by Thanksgiving if not beforehand.) But this year we were on the road and then I’ve been battling some cold/flu bug for the last several weeks. Haven’t had much time or energy to get decorations up, cookie platters planned (I give them to neighbors and friends), or our family Christmas letter written. (Yikes! Cards … Continue reading

Tabby’s First Christmas

There was big excitement around our house today. I was finally feeling well enough to get the Christmas decorations up. At least the inside ones. I’m a little behind on it this year. I usually do it around Thanksgiving, but we were in Denver. But this morning while Wayne commandeered my office for a conference call, I decided it was time to break out the garland and trees and our other holiday trimmings. That’s when it hit me that this is Tabby’s first Christmas. At least with us. She was most likely born before this time last year, but I … Continue reading