Six Years!

Yesterday was my and Steve's six year anniversary. Hard to believe that it has already been six years in some respects, but then it feels much longer in others (in a good way). It feels as if we have always been together and the time before we were together was more of a story that I read at some point and remember vaguely. While he is in no way perfect (me either), he tries, which is more than I can say for most husbands out there. He doesn't try to be perfect, but he tries to give me what I need. Unfortunately for him, that seems to change on a daily basis! But he keeps trying and keeps communicating - which is really what I actually need.

We had a good weekend together, mostly spending time together going out to eat. But it was very enjoyable and gave us time to reconnect. We also began reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman out loud to each other. If you have never read out loud to your spouse or had him read to you, you are really missing out! It allows the imagination to really take off like listening to a book on tape does. You don't have to focus where you are on a page and can just let your imagination run wild. All around fabulous!

Otherwise, not much going on in our world. I haven't had the time, the clean space, or the motivation to do much crafting lately. I have some fabric to make kitchen curtains and need to find the time soon to do that. I think the old ones, covered in a thick layer of cat hair shall be going in the trashcan. I have also been working on a baby gift for my new niece/nephew that will be arriving next year. It's looking good and I think I will have time to get it all done before baby arrives.

So, six years down, another sixty to go! :)

Running out of room in my head

Stress doesn't even seem to be a big enough word for what I have been feeling lately. Terror might be closer...

Today was my husband's last day of work at what was his current job. The company did a massive layoff and he was affected by it. He was the carrier of our insurance so who knows how that is going to work. We are going to try to pay into Cobra but of course that is really expensive.

I will be having my gallbladder out in a little over a week. I am hopeful that this will help with a lot of the digestive issues that I have been experiencing lately. At the very least I hope it helps with the pain. I will be off for almost a week following the surgery. It will be nice to get some rest at least.

I had a follow-up MRI last Friday and got the results yesterday. The brain area was good with no new lesions and no active lesions. I have an active lesion on my spinal cord around the C4 area. No lesions in my thorasic area but I do have some arthritis and some misaligned vertebrae at T6-T7. That explains why I have pain in the middle area of my back.

My toe has healed though I have some lingering pain occasionally when I go to bend it.

Our honeymoon in Arkansas was amazing and a lot of fun. It rained on us most of the time we were there but it was still beautiful in the mountains. Our favorite activity was going to see the big cats at the Turpentine sanctuary where they rescue big cats who have not been taken care of by their owners. It was neat to be so close to lions, tigers, bears, cougars, bobcats, black panthers, leopards, and white tigers. I had to wear the boot on our honeymoon because my toe hadn't healed up yet but it wasn't too bad. The boot plus all the rain did make me slip a few times but I never fell thank goodness.

We are now trying to get ready for Christmas. Finding the money for this Christmas is going to be a little more difficult I think. But it will all work out. Because, Romans 8:28 - just gotta remember it!

Let Me Count the Ways - Version 2011

I have developed lists of reasons I love my husband so much over the last couple of anniversaries. I can’t believe that it’s been four years since we got married! So I am working on the list again. There are so many things I love about my husband so I am going to attempt not to repeat myself.


1. I really love having my husband working days right now. It is so wonderful that he can get a decent amount of sleep and I still get to see him in the evenings. It is great actually being able to sleep next to him. This will change when he goes to seconds on Oct. 1st, but I am soaking it up right now.

2. Steve stands by me, always. He was there with me through the whole process of getting diagnosed with MS. I can’t put into words the amount of support he has given me and how much it means to me. He also gives me my shots when I need help.

3. I love how he just opens his arms to me to get a hug and just holds me.

4. Steve took over the finances because it was getting too stressful for me to keep it up well. He is doing a fantastic job and I feel more comfortable now with where we are than I have in a long time.

5. He helps me clean around the house. This is a huge help, especially now when I get fatigued so easily.

6. He really listens to me when I need it and communicates well. This is a pretty rare quality in guys (communication is the number one complaint in marriage counseling couples!).

7. He is willing to step outside his comfort zone if he knows that attending an event is important to me. He is even taking a LIFE group with me this fall at the church.

8. He takes care of things for me. This sounds pretty vague, but this really encompasses a lot. Sometimes it’s just emptying the dishwasher when I ask, and other times it’s taking my truck and washing it by hand after the automatic carwash took my money, got soap all over the truck and stopped working.

9. He calls or texts me for no reason other than to tell me that he loves me. I love those messages!

10. He is so stinking smart! I can appreciate this even when he is kicking my butt at Words with Friends, which he does almost every game. I can appreciate this even more now that I am so foggy on the cognitive front.

....Let Me Count the Ways....

Tomorrow is my wedding anniversay of two years. It's hard to believe that two years ago, I was getting ready to marry Steve. In some ways, it seems like it was just yesterday and in some ways, it feels like I have always been loved by him. So, in honor of our anniversary, I decided that I would list a few of my favorite things about my husband and our marriage.

1. I never have to wonder if he loves me, I feel it, even if he doesn't say it. But, he's never shy about saying it.

2. I know without looking that his hand is reaching for mine no matter where we are.

3. If I have a bad, sad, or weird dream, he always makes me feel better.

4. He values my opinion even if he doesn't agree with it.

5. He isn't afraid to correct me or tell me when I hurt his feelings. And he always does it in such a way that is incredibly respectful.

6. He does nice things for me just because he enjoys doing nice things for me.

7. He rubs my feet, even when he probably really doesn't want to.

8. I am one of the few people who can make him laugh (a real laugh) and he always shows his real smile to me.

9. We have much of the same values and interests. So we always have something to talk about.

10. I love the way he looks at me that tells me I am the only other person in the room, even when we are in a crowded room.

These are just a few of my favorite things. I am sure I could go on an on but I have to get some work done now. All I know is that I am incredibly blessed!

Happy Anniversary my love!