Insane

Have you read on my sister's blog about her husband picking individual items out of a swept up pile of dust rather than sweeping up the whole pile? Or his reply? This is a mean question since their blog is private but still, you are missing out. It's humor at its finest.

I have to say though, when it comes to spouses doing insane things, I was the winner today. I woke up not feeling well. I did not articulate this and shuffled around, growing ever angrier that Greg was not a mind reader. The role of a martyr is much more satisfying than actual assistance. Then I felt that his shower was too long and probably too hot. Then I became more frustrated that not only did he not truly understand my plight but he had the further audacity to make himself coffee AND get ready for work. You know, without rocking me like a baby and spoon feeding me broth first.

Then when he came upstairs I wondered outloud (okay, fine, wailed) as to why he hadn't noticed my suffering and offered to dress kids, feed them, and get ready for work so that we could eat and have heat. When he gave me the "are you crazy look" and said, "Okay, fine, I can get Dane dressed", I collapsed in a weeping heap on the bed, declaring that the offer didn't count if it wasn't said with a loving, sincere, and compassionate heart. Soon after the man tore out of the driveway, probably thinking that the warm embrace of his boss was 3 times better than his lunatic wife.

We talked over lunch. He graciously, and sincerely, asked, "How are you feeling?" I said, "Fine, please come home after work. Don't leave me for a kinder, less bizarre woman. I promise that I will not be insane." He just laughed. LAUGHED. That my friend is a good man. It would have been fair if he said, "Fine, I"ll come home but I'm having Valium delivered and I'd like 3 of the on board before I walk through the door."

Please tell me that sometimes you are also insane.

Aug. 5, 2000

That my friends was when Greg and I got married. This is what today looked like:

9-Number of years married

3-Number of precious babies I made mac and cheese dinner for

5-Time our baby-sitter showed up for our hot date

4000-Calories consumed at Outback dinner

2-Books bought at Barnes and Noble

3-Magazines bought at Barnes and Noble (thanks Mom and Dad!)

1,756,289-Tears cried while watching the movie "Up".

5,6,7,8,9, and 10-The hours Greg and I held hands

Infinite-The number of blessings we have



(Go give Angela and Justin some love too. They celebrated 9 years of marriage today too!)

The funniest post that never happened

This evening Greg and I had a hilarious conversation with a PG-13 rating.

You know your husband is into your blog when the first thing he says after a hilarious conversation is, "You should put this on your blog!" Then we had a good laugh about how far would Sara go to exploit her family for ten extra hits a day. I may have also said that I didn't want my blog to go from family friendly to mature audience only in one post.

But I did it anyway. I typed up the whole hilarious conversation but when it came time to publish it I just couldn't do it. I mean, our parents read this for heaven's sake!! (Sorry parents, but I know you do.) And while having three children makes certain assumptions about ones relationship I'm not ready to jest about them in front of parents and a public public.

So I deleted the whole hilarious conversation and posted this instead. I'd be very disappointed if I were you.

Better man (or woman)

Everyday when Greg gets home from work he asks me what I did that day. I often amaze myself as I recount the day's activities. A common day includes a trip to the grocery store, an art project, an outing to the park, making cookies, running through the sprinkler, scouring ads for coupons, to say nothing of the daily routine of child care, bathing, laundry, dishes, sweeping, reading stories, snuggles, and the million and one toys I pick up. When I think about it even I can't believe what I accomplish in a day!

It's because of efficiency. I am more efficient now that I have kids. It is a skill acquired accidentally while I got down to the business of having a family and I am better for it.

This got me thinking about other ways that marriage and parenthood have improved me. I am more efficient. I hope I'm more patient. I am a better communicator. I have found personal balance between house keeping and having space to just live. I look at my husband and kids and have a glimmer of how God feels about me. I have a more eternal perspective which gives everyday greater hope. I KNOW that I am a better person because of being a wife and mother.

I'd love some comments. How has marriage and/or parenthood made YOU a better person??