Love fights fair (Day 13)

Love fights fair - Day 13

If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. Mark 3.25

Today's Dare:

Talk with your spouse about establishing healthy rules of engagement. If your mate is not ready for this, then write out your own personal rules to "FIGHT" by. Resolve to abide by them when the next disagreement occurs.

_______ Check here when you've completed today's dare.

Love let the other win (Day 12)

I have to say yesterday's dare was very good. My husband cooked me a wonderful dinner - it was nice to come home from work and not have to worry about cooking...VERY nice!!! I got to sit and watch some TV and relax a bit.

Later that night...I gave my hubby a nice full body massage (nothing dirty)...he thought I would just give him a quick back rub...but I took my time....back, arms, hands, legs (he doesn't like his feet touched), head - a good 30 + minutes!! I'm not going to fib - my hands started hurting.....I don't know how people do that on a daily basis!!

OK..on to today's.......

Love let the other win Day 12

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interest of others. Philippians 2:4

Today's Dare:

Demonstrate love by willingly choosing to give in to an area of disagreement between you and your spouse. Tell them you are putting their preference first.

_______ Check here when you've completed today's dare.

Love cherrishes (Day11)

Happy Monday......we've made it through another week :-) We had a good weekend - the hubs and I went out on Saturday night for a little bit of us time.

OK.....we've moved on to:

Day 11 - Love cherrishes

Husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. Ephesions 5:28

Today's Dare:

What need does your spouse have that you could meet today? Can you run an errand? Give a back rub or a foot massage? Is there housework you could help with? Choose a gesture that says, "I cherrish you" and do it with a smile.

_______ Check here when you've completed today's dare.

Love is unconditional (Day 10)

Love is unconditional Day 10

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 3:8

Today's Dare:

Do something out of the ordinary today for your spouse - something that proves (to you and them) that your love is based on your choice and nothing else. Wash her car. Clean the Kitchen. Buy his favorite dessert. Fold the laundry. Demonstrate love to them for the sheer joy of being their partner in marriage.

_______ Check here when you've completed today's dare.

Love makes good impressions (Day 9)

We've made it to day 9.....

Love makes good impressions

Greet one another with a kiss of love 1 Peter 5:14

Today's Dare:

Think of a specific way you'd like to greet your spouse today. Do it with a smile and with enthusiasm. Then determine to change your greeting to reflect your love for them.

________ Check here when you've completed today's dare.



Easy enough......I guess after you've been married a while (and have children) by the time you get home from work - you just want to change and relax, you forget all about that greeting you used to do to your spouse (like when you first were married). I know my first thoughts are to get my shoes off, and get out of my uniform.

I guess I need to rethink it huh?

Love is not jealous (Day 8)

I thought yesterday's dare was a very good one! I think we all need to realize and stick with the more positive aspects of our marriages....."stay away from that negative door!"

Day 8 Love is not jealous

Love is strong as death, its jalousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire. Song of Solomon 8:6

Today's Dare:

Determine to become your spouse's biggest fan and to reject any thoughts of jealousy. To help you set your heart on your spouse and focus on their achievements, take yesterday's list of negative attributes and discreetly burn it. Then share with your spouse how glad you are about a success he or she recently enjoyed.

_________ Check here when you've completed today's dare.

Love believes the best (Day 7)

We're on day 7....

Love believes the best

(Love) believes all things, hopes all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7

Today's Dare:

For today's dare, get two sheets of paper. On the first one, spend a few minutes writing out positive things about your spouse. Then do the same with negative things on the second sheet. Place both sheets in a secret place for another day. There is a different purpose and plan for each. At some point during the remainder of the day, pick a positive attribute from the first list and thank your spouse for having this characteristic.

________ Check here when you've completed today's dare.

Love is not irritable (Day 6)

I really meant to do a post over the weekend - but I had to work, and just didn't get a chance. Friday's dare I thought would be one of the toughest....and it may be. Me and my husband did it, and it wasn't bad. We both really knew what each other was going to say, so neither of us was shocked. I do know what gets under my hubbys skin.....sigh - but some of the things I do is hard to over come, but I am going to try.

Saturday we had the day "off".....Sunday we had class and went over the week. I did miss class, but I did my lesson while I was at work - I do really recommend if you can get these books, do so.

Moving on......

Day 6 - Love is not irritable

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city. Proverbs 16:23

Today's Dare

Choose today to react to tough circumstances in your marriage in loving ways instead of with irritation. Begin by making a list below of areas where you need to add margin to your schedule. Then list any wrong motivations that youneed to release from your life.

_________ Check here when you've completed today's dare.

This doesn't seem to be a bad one ;-) Actually I know none of these are 'bad' just a little tough to swollow.

Love is not rude (Day 5)

As I said yesterday.....day 4 wasn't anything out of the norm for me and the hubs - we call each other on a daily basis - always see if we need to get each other anything. I think it's very important to do that in a marriage.

Now to move on.....

Love is not rude - Day 5

He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning it will be reckoned a curse to him. Proverbs 27:14

Todays Dare

Ask your spouse to tell you three things that cause him or her to be uncomfortable or irritated with you. You must do so without attacking them or justifying your behavior. This is from their perspective only.

_________ Check here when you've compled today's dare.

This one may get a little touchy for me.....I don't like confrontation........If something is bothering me I do say something, but there are times that I do clam up and just deal with what is bothering me. I doubt I share what happens today, maybe the reactions (which we cannot really say much about). I may tell how I felt when my husband told me the things that bother him, and what I will do to try to change those things. But this is one of those dares that I feel that is between me and my spouse.

Tomorrow is a "OFF" day.....no dares. Sunday we have our lesson, and go over this past week. Though we're "OFF" .... I'm still going 'by the book" ;-)

Love is thoughtful ( Day 4)

Well...I've made it to day 4 :-) So far so good. I finished yesterdays dare - I stopped and got my hubbys favorite candy, and also stopped and got him a steak and his favorite veggie for dinner. The kiddos and I had dinner at church - so I thought it would be nice to get the hubs something nice for dinner.

Now we're on to day 4:

Love is thoughtful

How precious also are your thoughts to me....How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. Psalm 139:17-18

Todays dare:

Contact your spouse sometime during the business of the day. Have no agenda other than asking how he or she is doing and if there is anything you could do for them.

_________ Check here when you've completed today's dare.


I don't think this will be a hard one - the hubs and I always call each other to see how we're doing :-)

Love is not selfish (Day three)

We are on day three of the Love Dare. Yesterday went very well - I finished my dare ..... I wasn't negative, and I also did something else yesterday evening that I typically don't do - after McKenna and I left her open house I stopped to get us dinner - I usually HATE to stop at subway, though I like eating there, I don't like to get out when I'm in a hurry....and I hate shuffling down that line. BUT - I stopped at subway....it's one of my hubbys favorites - he's asked me to stop before, but I whine and moan...but I stopped un-prevoked....I know it was probably a shock..LOL

OK here we go for:

Day 3 - Love is not selfish

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor. Romans 12:10

Today's Dare:

Whatever you put your time, energy,and money into will ecome more important to you. It's hard to care for something you are not investing in. Along with restraining from negative comments, buy your spouse something that says, "I was thinking of you today."

_________ Check here when you've completed today's dare.



Hope you guys are enjoying this as much as I am :-)

Love is Kind (Day Two)

Today is day 2 of the Love Dare. Yesterday went very well - I didn't have to 'battle' or bite my tongue ;-) All in all it went rather smoothly.

I'm going to try to share what I do go through - but I will not get too personal.....of course some things are between a spouse and God.

If you didn't read my first blog - My husband and I are doing the Love Dare - the class based on the movie "Fire Proof". Our adult Sunday School Class is doing it. I'm going ot try to share the dares day to day - they go Monday - Friday. The book is realy awesome, and I hightly recommend everyone try this.

Day 2 - Love is Kind

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

Todays Dare:

In addistion to saying nothing negative to your spouse again today, do at lease one unexpected gesture as an act of kindness.

________ Check here when you've completed today's dare

_______________________________________________

I have to say I tried to get on this one early this morning - I got up a little early for it. Our smallest chilren (Braxton and Brylee) have to be to school at 7:45, Jerimy usually takes them - I get up get them ready, get Jerimy up...he helps me finish up and he takes them to school so I won't be rushed to be to work on time. My oldest daughter has to be to school by 8:50 - we leave the house by 8:00 so I won't be late for work at 9am. It all actually works out. Jerimy just takes the smaller one's on his way out.....and I'm not rushed. (btw - he does pick them up from school)

Anyway - got up early, was EXTRA quiet ( I usually cladderbang) - got the kiddos up quietly, got them ready and we headed out the door. I let my hubby sleep in a little extra this morning. I planned on making him some breakfast when we got back, but he had to rush out.

I have to add, he has all ready did something this morning - he actually made up the bed :-) I don't know about you guys, but I love for my bed to be made, and it's difficult to do in the mornings (I do it when I get home, or before going to sleep) But he did it, got up and made it.

Anyway..hope you guys have a great day!!! Now let's see if I can hold my tongue another day!!!

This Is Who I Am (Day One) Love is Patient

Last weekend our Adult Sunday School class got together and watched the movie "Fire Proof". This is the first time I've watched it. I thought it was a very good movie. And yes I cannot believe this is the first time I watched.

The reason we watched this is because we were/are starting the "Love/Dare" Class - the 40 day challenge. (the link I posted lists the first weeks challenges - the book goes more in depth. That is the first week, to the right lists all the weeks - total 8).

We met for the first time yesterday - your dares/challenges start each Monday...and goes through Friday. I'm going to try to post day by day (if I can) each love dare. I know this will be an amazing class, and I know I will learn a lot. Not only about my husband, but mainly about myself. I know I need work, and I think this will help me.

Day One - Love is Patient (I don't know about you guys, but I am one of the most unpatient people there are!)

Be completely humble, and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love - Ephesians 4:2 NIV

Today's Dare:

The first part of this dare is fairly simple. Although Love is communicated in a number of ways, our words often reflect the conditions of our heart. For the next day, resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to your spouse at all. If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything. It's better to hold your tongue than to say something you'll regret.

_______ Check here when you've completed today's dare.

_________________________________________

I know for myself this is a challenge...Patience is very hard to come by, I don't know if it's lessons learned, or it is something aquired, if so I haven't yet. I know this dare will help me. And this is only the first part of the dare.

I got up extra early this morning - exercised..and prayed. I really want to do this, and be positive about it. I challenge each of you to try this, and to watch the movie if you haven't. It is eye-opening.

**** also the songs I'm posting are songs from the fireproof soundtrack - they may not have anything to do with the post.

Rollin' rollin' rollin.....

Last weekend - the family went up to North Carolina. The hubs played in a Church League National Softball Tournament. (They placed 3rd). It was a VERY nice trip. We got there Friday evening - all the kiddos talked about was swimming - I 'promised' them we'd go swimming the next day.

So while daddy went and played ball, me and the kiddos hung out by the pool. We had all intentions of spending some time at the field, but we ended up here all afternoon:

One.....twoooo...........freeeeeee - notice the scrunched up close the eyes face

catching some rays

Brylee and all her 'gear'

Braxton totally doing something against the rules................ ha

Me and the hubs............."please take a serious picture" face............hmmmmmm

We had a very nice time - with the exception of Braxton getting bite by a snake in the pool, while he was swimming under water (in all that gear he had on) Yes yes....this is what he told a little girl in his class.

I was in a local store yesterday....and the girls mom works there....she asks "did Braxton get bit by a snake?" All I could think was or Lord what did my son tell now! I just said mmm no - she asked then, do you guys have a pool. I told her we didn't, but went out of town last weekend and spent the day at the pool. Apparently he told the little girl he got bit by a snake while he was swimming under water.......She told her mom - "it's true - I saw the bite mark and everything! He showed it to me in class"

All I could do was shake my head...........sigh you never EVER know what your children are going to say (especially boys) I know my son is always wrestling alligators jumping out of trees, fighting off bears....killing snakes and beating up monstors - among other things.

The busy life of a 5 year old.