Pod People. . . Brussel Sprouts.... Love

My hubby and I will celebrate our 26th wedding anniversary in a few weeks, if you want to know what true love looks like, it is a husband who plants a garden every year for his wife that loves veggies.  The wife that could very easily be a vegetarian.  Love is a husband that will research how to grow brussel sprouts and go out and plant them because he finds out his wife likes them.  The hubbs does not like brussel sprouts and calls them "pod people" and yet he planted them for me.  Our garden is looking very interesting this year, looking forward to our harvest.  More pictures of our "pod people" when they are mature.

My very sweet hubby working. 

My very sweet hubby praying over our garden after planting 

The "pod people" cannot wait to see how they grow. 

Truly Pampered Mom

I must brag just a bit on my very sweet husband.  He does a lot around the house and he is fully involved with what ever the kids are doing and he cooks now and then.  The other day he announced he was going to make chicken pies.  I did a little double take with the head tilt and confused look on my face. He said again, I am going to make chicken pies.  I said ok, and laughed it off. Well, low and behold,  he made two chicken pies the other day. We froze one and ate the other one.  I must admit it was very good.  We can add chicken pie to his vast repertoire of pancakes, bacon, omelet,  anything on the grill, Greek chicken in the crock pot,  and Latoshia's chili recipe. 
He said he was preparing to retire, he would cook while I worked part time to provide insurance.  He really has been thinking an awful lot about this retirement thing.  He has had a good deal of practice lately with my work schedule and a lot of folks sick at work.  He has really had to be both Mom and Dad  several days these last few months.   He is a trooper though, he rarely complains, maybe sometimes in jest. 

I am a lucky girl!!  In April we will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary,  it does not seem that long ago.  I love this man more and more each day.  If I could give advice to those engaged or even newlyweds, I would say find someone that makes you laugh and never ever hold anything back.  The hubbs and I do argue but, we argue and get it out and over with.   We are different people and have different opinions and we are not afraid to share that opinion with each other.  We have had our fare share of knock down drag outs but we always feel better after we have voiced our opinions.  Do not change who you are for anyone, your soulmate should know the real you.  

My very sweet hubby said on numerous occasions he loved me because of my fire and my willingness to fight for what I believe in. 

Things have been sporadic for sure here at the Pampered Mom?? but do not fear I am trying to find my way and get back to a regular schedule of posting.  Stay tuned, you know that Sprat is getting ready for College and Big T is finishing that first year of high school.  

Husbands and relationships. . .

I have seen previews for the Bridezilla marriage bootcamp program, I have not ever watched it and don't plan on watching it.  This weeks previews prompted a good question.  Their dilemma according to the previews is each couple must decide if there is only one seat in a life raft which one of them will get it?  I thought that was an intriguing question for a married couple.  I decided I would have a little fun with my hubby.  I sent him a text asking; "there is only room in a life raft for one of us what would you do?"    He replied back saying, "hang on the outside and tread water."   I asked him which one of us would do that?   He said, "me in the raft."   I thought that was so sweet.   I told him I was thinking the same thing only him in the raft and me treading water.  I am much better at treading water than he is.  I do it all summer long with the kids at the pool.   He sent back another text and said we could alternate in and out of the raft.   We have been married 20 years now and I love him more and more every day.  I keep him on his toes.
From what I have seen of the previews for the show these couples do not see things this way.   They just don't get it.  You have to sacrifice when you love someone and you have to compromise when you love someone.  Marriage is always a work in progress, it is a living organism and it requires constant love, nurturing, and attention.   These shows you see on TV, the so called "reality" shows are anything but reality.   Most people know this but there are some that follow these as the truth.
Ladies throw some crazy in on your men every now and then to keep them guessing.   Ask them this question and see how they respond.   Make up your own question and see how he responds.  I would love to hear your questions or comments about how things turn out.  Good Luck!!

Doing taxes. . . Yuck!!!

I really hate doing our taxes, we usually get money back, but I just hate having to sit down and pull everything out to get them done.  I had gotten really good at doing them and could do them in just about 2 hours with no kids around.  Today I had the worst time getting everything loaded and updated.  It took all morning.  I finished just in time to go get the kids at school.  One big check off of my to do list this week.  I sent a quick text to my hubby to let him know I was done and that we were going to get a refund.  He chirped back and said hey, it sounds like time to get a new boat.  I sent back, oh yeah sure, ok.  He decided that meant he had my permission, and in writing to boot.   He has the best since of humor.  I told him good luck getting to the account before me.   He always knows how to make me laugh.  I guess that is why we have been together 20 years.  He knows when I am in need of a good laugh to help my mood.  He knows when I need a just because hug too.  He always knows when I am having one of those days, even  before we have talked.

Celebrating >>>>????<<<<>>>><<<>>>><<<>>>

My dear hubby and I are celebrating 20 wonderful years this week.  I am so very lucky to have such a wonderful man to call my; best friend, lover, and soul mate.  I can hardly believe that it has actually been 20 years, it does not seem that long at all.   I wonder some days if when our kids are gone will we have any thing in common.  Then he comes home talking about taking me out on the boat fishing or going to the beach to go fishing.  We both love to fish, I just have not been able to as much since the kids.  Since we have been watching the NCAA tournament we have been remembering our honeymoon.  Hubby laughs at the fact we "had" to get married when we did.  My parents are huge State fans and all of our friends are fans of either State or UNC.  In order to have even my parents at our wedding we "had" to get married on that day because of the various games.  We watched the final game in Florida at a bar and  grill on the inlet.  

Then

Now.

Talking to kids about marriage. . .

I always say God puts things in our path sometimes to test us and sometimes to help us.  Last night our devotion with the boys was about marriage and finding your special person that God has for you.  I hesitated before I read it but, I knew God had put that devotion there for a reason.  It was about two sisters one was getting married and the other was only thirteen.  The oldest was talking about how God had lead her to her perfect mate and how that someday her sister would find her perfect mate too.  It also talked about how your mate should be a friend and respect you and your feelings.  This opened up a great conversation with the boys.  

It is just as important to talk to boys about relationships and marriage as it is to talk with girls.  You can never talk about it to early either.  Little boys need to know how to treat little girls.  It is also never to early to pray for your child's future mate.  I have talked about Stormie O'Martin many times on my blog and I am going to mention her here too.  She wrote "The Power of a Praying Parent" it gives you great examples of prayers to pray for your kids, boys or girls about different things in their lives.  One of these is about finding that perfect godly mate.  We all hope that our children find that special person that will make them happy and take care of them.  Why not put that in Gods' hands?  Pray for them to find that special person, pray that God leads them to that special person.  It is never too early to think about.   Our devotions come from "Keys for Kids"  a good friend of mine shared this magazine with me after my youngest had been at their Bible School one Summer.  I found them online too, so I go online to their website to do devotions with the boys.  www.cbhministries.org/forkids/keysforkids  check them out.