In all actuality, I don’t know if it would technically be called saving, you can decide for yourself upon reading the story.
When my husband and I purchased our car, it was when gas was around $2.50 per gallon. The prices steadily increased from that time forth. When gas was at its highest, our pockets became extremely empty. To fill my car up averaged between $120-150 to fill up, depending on how empty I allowed it to become. Sometimes the budget just plain and simply didn’t allow for gas tank to be filled. One of the biggest reasons my husband got his second job at UPS was because filling my car and his car up with gas was taking money from our grocery budget or savings; the catch 22 with this all is that grocery prices were rising as fast as gas prices were. The final solution was to add more income.
I tried to be frugal and cautious with my driving. I left the house as little as possible. I would even bum a ride off my mom or sister if I wanted to get together with them (I couldn’t afford to constantly be driving to their houses). I felt stupid but there wasn’t much else I could do about it all.
Now how does this all go into me saving $100? Today my car was running on empty. My tank is a 22 gallon tank. I am ashamed to admit that when gas was taking me for all I was worth and more, there were times I had to put 23.850 gallons in the car. How you ask? Simple, the tank is 22 gallons and the pump to the engine takes 2 gallons, so technically I have 24 gallons of gas. Those were the times that the gas gauge needle was below the E line. Yep…that is how dry I ran it!
Today my yellow indicator light was on, but the needle hadn’t dropped below the “E” sign. Since I was already at Costco I decided to head on over and fill ‘er up. When we arrived at the pump, my husband jumped out and got the gas filling up. When the gas tank was full, I looked at the pump from the warmth of my seat (I LOVE my seat heater!!!). My jaw dropped and I couldn’t believe it. I was in sticker shock, the good kind. It has never been less than $60 to fill my gas tank, something I had grown accustomed to. This evening, I saved $100. This last summer I spent $135 for 22 gallons of gas; this evening, I spend $35 for 22 gallons of gas.
Many will say I didn’t save that money, to them I say…look at my budget. I no longer need to plan $500 for just gasoline each month. If prices continue where they are at, I will be able to plan $200 for gas and drive whenever the heck I want to wherever I want and STILL have money leftover in the gas budget at the end of the month. I am loving, appreciating of, doting, zealous about (all the LOVING adjectives combined) the savings. I do have one request though; please oh please let them continue after the holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: applying for jobs, atc job, job history, making decisions for future
The thought of my husband becoming an Air Traffic Controller has had ups and downs for both of us. It has been interesting to watch our attitudes towards his future career. Until recently, we never seemed to be on the same page. I would want it desperately, he would be unsure; I would be unsure and he would be ready to go. We always felt as though the cards were stacked against us in this future career due to the fact that the process dragged on for months upon months upon months. My husband first applied for the job in June of 2007, he will start his new job on December 29 of 2008.
18 months ago, an off-the-street application opened up for Salt Lake City Air Traffic controllers (usually you attend specialized colleges for CTI training then after graduation can apply for job openings with the FAA for ATC). My husband’s father heard about the opening and urged my husband to apply. At first my husband was very reluctant but luckily he has a father that was just as diligent. I am so thankful to him for that!!!
One night we were sitting in our living room discussing future. While my husband had a good job at the time, we knew it was not a permanent solution. We finally decided, ok truth be known, I decided it was time to look into the ATC stuff. After what my husband thought was the end of “where is our future going” discussion, I decided that it couldn’t hurt to apply for the ATC job. I grabbed the jean-worn piece of paper from the corner of the desk and typed in the web address given to my husband by his father.
Most the questions I was able to answer myself; after all, I am the one that usually fills out any paperwork given to us. After tackling the first section, I started on the second. This section wasn’t as easy. Instead of being factual questions such as name, social, birthday, employment history and address, many questions were guestimations such as, “What was your average high school science grade?” or “What was your average high school math grade?” While I knew my husband was a great math and science student in high school, I was unsure of what to guestimate for those.
“Love, what grades did you get in math in high school?” I questioned. I often ask random questions so my husband didn’t even bother looking up from whatever he was doing to answer, “Mainly A’s.”
I quickly clicked the button on the application and then asked, “What about science?” Once again he was unscathed by my odd inquiry and replied with, “A’s”. I clicked the answer and continued on with the application.
What I thought would be a 10 minute adventure turned into an hour. After completing section 2, I moved onto section 3…aviation history. This area scared me. While I knew SOME (okay make that VERY LITTLE) about aviation, I really didn’t know what I could and couldn’t answer on what he did and didn’t know. Some were simple questions and I answered those. The questions I didn’t know the answer to, I left blank and moved forward. Once I completed the section, I went back to the skip questions and started a verbal interrogation of my husband?
“How many flight hours do you have?”
“I don’t know. 50, maybe 60. I haven’t looked at my log book in a LONG time. Why are you wondering that?” Although I am known to ask off the wall questions, back then those questions rarely involve flying and flight time. My gig was up.
“Well, I decided that since you were unsure on whether or not you wanted the ATC thing, it was better to apply and have the opportunity in the future than not apply and want the opportunity; in the end, he could turn it down if he decided against it.
“Oh, ok. Biggest reason I hadn’t applied was I was too lazy to pull up the web site and fill out the monotonous information.” My husband’s reaction was the exact reaction I was expecting. After several more questions, Ben finally decided he might as well finish it up; after all, he was answering them one way or another and it was faster if it wasn’t all relayed through me.
I know MANY people that would say I assume too much and that I had over stepped my bounds in applying for the job for my husband. What many don’t know is most jobs my husband has had in our marriage I have been the one to apply for it. His first job I got him through my brother. The fact that my brother was a supervisor in the same department my husband worked was rather sticky and getting out of the ASAP did become first and foremost after a while, but the reason Ben got the job was because I asked. After that job, his next job he did all the leg work for it. That job was DHL and he was there a year to long (he worked there for about 18 months).
While working for DHL, Ben started to work for JetBlue, yes I was the one that applied for him. Upon quitting DHL, Ben moved up to a great job at Overstock. We had some great friend and the husband worked there. It really was a great place for us and provided a good income. We made no plans to leave. After working there a year, Ben quit JetBlue because the added income wasn’t as needed. Ben was still working at Overstock when I applied for the ATC job for him.
Approximately 30 days after Ben finished the application to become an ATC, Ben was layed off from Overstock. It SUCKED. We were lucky enough to have savings but the future looked scary. We both prayed hard for the ATC thing to work out and work out fast. The severance package helped with the financial blow but not the self-esteem blow that Ben felt.
After several applications and several, “We will let you know in the next 3-4 days” and never receiving a call, the unemployment world was taking its toll on my dear husband. Each night I prayed harder for ATC to hurry the process, it never did. After a while, I felt strongly it wasn’t going to work out right then and I needed to move on from ATC and help look in other places.
One night I was up late worrying about our situation. After all, it had been almost 2 months and still no job. I said a prayer and continued my search on the web for any job that my husband had experience to help with the finances. As I looked through the help wanted ads on ksl.com, a new job suddenly appeared in the accounting area (this was a bit shocking because it was 1 in the morning). I looked at the pay scale and immediately applied. A response email was sent back within minutes scheduling an interview. That is the job my husband is currently at. Oh and the UPS job, the application originally had my name on it and my husband “forbade” it and so his name was put there instead. So yeah, I applied for that job too!
Due to the fact that the hiring process has taken 18 months, there have been many ups and downs. Since I stay home and my husband supports our family financially, his career is what will support our family. I have always been blessed to have a husband that knows this fact and allows my input on the subject. I know many people and have several friends that their spouses’ career is just that…theirs. Input is heard but doesn’t have a strong base to it.
Ben has always made my input be just as important as his own. He has always made it feel like it is “our” career, not just his career. I don’t think he even knows how I value that. It helps me to know that I do have a say in our future and we are a complete partnership. I married the BEST man…I know I have said it before and I will continue to say it! I really lucked out getting him!
So that is our story of ATC. It is part of our journey in life and I love looking back on it. I find it interesting that the times I lost faith in ATC were the times he felt the strongest and vice versa. It really did take both of us and our endurance to make it through, but we did. I know the real journey is ahead, but I think we can manage that one too! 
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: blessings, cleaning the house, de-cluttering the house, neighbors grief is my blessing, organizing the house, preparing to move, what to do with animal when moving
As I mentioned before, my husband has been offered a job with the FAA to become an air traffic controller (ATC). Each day I am amazed at how things fall into place as we prepare to leave. Many blessings have been from our own work, others have come from answered prayers. Being grateful for a neighbor’s dog dying is something that I am ashamed of.
The story goes like this. We found an apartment in the good part of Oklahoma; the only problem was our 65 pound Coonhound mix dog, Lady, was too big to take. The night we mentioned to our neighbor we were moving for 4 months, he immediately asked what we were doing with Lady. I told him our situation and he asked if he could watch and take care of our Ladybird. I thought that was a very generous offer. I told him thank you and Ben and I would discuss it.
After discussing it with Ben, my biggest concern was for Lady’s safety. I KNEW our neighbor would care for her deeply and keep her out of harm’s way best he could. The problem was one of his dogs. She was well behaved and sweet but VERY territorial. If Lady touches her toy, she attacks viciously. That worried me for Lady and I KNEW that Lady would have to remain on our patio all day other then when playing out in the main area with the other dogs. I didn’t like the idea of that.
I asked my mom and she agreed to take Lady for the 4 months, although I knew she wasn’t thrilled. One night upon leaving my parents’ home, I got the strong impression that Lady needed to stay at our house and our neighbor needed to watch her. I knew that was the right answer and I started to make plans in how to prevent lady from tearing the house apart while still allowing her access inside. I also knew this meant leaving a key with this neighbor. I had to leave one anyway; in case of an emergency (the main water turn off valve is in our unit) but I hated that someone would be entering and leaving my house daily. I came to terms with this and then sent Ben over to the neighbors to verify he still wanted Lady.
As Ben walked in the front door from talking with the neighbor he had a sad smile and told me the neighbor DEFINITELY wanted Lady. See the neighbor’s one dog that was so territorial, Hannah, had died suddenly of a heart attack. She was still rather young (only about 5). Our neighbor was heartbroken over the loss and even more worried about his other dog mourning. He asked Ben if he could please take Lady during that time and let her just live at his house. What a blessing. It is a horrible thing to admit to being grateful for but I digress, I am thankful for it! It is even worse when you know that the neighbor offered from the goodness of his heart to care for our dog the entire time we were gone, we did not ask him. Yeah, I am a jerk for being grateful that he is mourning the loss of his dog and I am happy that he will now take our dog into his home because his dog died and won’t attack our Lady. That is such a horrible thing to admit! I really am grateful to our neighbor and I truly feel sorry that Hannah died. I feel bad that his sorrow ends up being our blessing!
This scenario with our dog, Lady, is just one of the many things I have had to worry and ponder about while preparing for Oklahoma. The other is making sure we pack enough but not too much and we leave a clean, clutter-free home.
I am a planner, always have been. I like to plan what needs done, make a list (my husband HATES that) and then slowly cross each thing that needs accomplished off the list. My list for Oklahoma City is growing larger and larger and the items being crossed off are fewer and fewer.
Each day as Ben looks at my list a loud groan can be heard throughout the house. Here are a few samples of phrases I have heard recently: “Is it really NECCESSARY to clean the entire storage shed out BEFORE we leave?”; “Why on earth do we have to replace/fix this before we leave?”; “We aren’t even taking the dryer, so why is fixing the air duct on it important right now?”; and my favorite, “Why on earth does rearranging/organizing this have to happen right now?”. My responses to all of these are “yes” and “because we have to have this done before Oklahoma”.
In truth, every single closet in the house didn’t really need to be de-cluttered and re-organized. The storage shed would be just fine without a new door and not re-organized. The computer desk doesn’t really need to be touched because we can close up the doors and the house would look clean. The problem is with my personality. Things can’t just look clean, they have to BE clean. If you walk in my front door and see a disaster that is the stage my house is at that moment. If you walk in and see it spotless that is the stage my house is in. You won’t walk into a bedroom, open the closet and find things falling out on you. Truth be told, it is that way even when my house is a disaster. Most of the time you will find each closet clean and organized. I have been this way since I was a child and will probably always be this way. You don’t hide your mess in a closet, it is either clean or out for all to see. I was never one of those children that in order to have a clean room would stuff clothes and crap under my bed or in my closet. On the contrary, most of the time my crap was all over my floor but under my bed and in my closet was nice and organized
Over the last few years, I have accumulated several things. Each time I run out of room, I will either remove the item out to the storage shed or ask my husband too. I became greedy with my items. I would take in new items and refuse to part with the items I already had. As a general rule, I have found in order to keep a clean house, each time you bring a new item into your home you must remove another item from your home of equal size in order to keep order. That rule is easy to see and say, hard to follow. My greediness made me horde more and more items all the while the walls of my home and storage shed enclosed around me. Finally I had had enough. My rule was going back into play, my home WILL be organized. What good is stuff if you can’t even find it to use it?
My rule of cleanliness going back into play happened to coincide around the same time as our offer from the FAA. Although I would LOVE to claim that all this really does need to be done just so we can go to Oklahoma, the truth is, this is stuff that has needed to be done for years. My closets are clean inside the house and the one storage shed is clean and will be organized completely this Saturday.
The storage shed on the patio is in the works and should be completed this Saturday as well. That is the only storage place that we own on our premises that hasn’t been touched. I am scared. The state of that shed causes me much pain and worry. Whenever I dwell or think about this shed I shutter in fear. There is so much stuff! What am I to do with all this stuff? Well I have finally decided, this Saturday much of that “stuff” will end up at goodwill.
Now what does this have to do with Oklahoma? As I get rid of more and more stuff, I am able to see what we actually have and actually need. I can see what I need to take to OKC and what can be left behind. I know that when we leave for OKC, if we do need something shipped to us or someone needs to enter our home or storage facilities, they will do so without major injury! The day our car leaves packed with the months of supplies we will need, I leave knowing that my house is in order, clutter-free and clean. The biggest problem with this is I am doing all of this right before Christmas. When I get home from OKC, I will have to get rid of many items that were brought into the house during the Christmas season. Wish me luck!
My list is still long as are my husband’s groans. My days are numbered that I can work with my husband to get things done (3 Saturdays to be exact). Some things can be accomplished on my own, and those are the things that are done. The rest I need my husband’s sexy, strong biceps to assist me. A promise of organization and order to our lives helps subdue many moans, but not all. He really is wonderful about helping me and I am truly grateful to him for that. This blog is being written to formally and publicly announce to him that yes, he was right; all of his moaning and groaning was correct, none of these things HAD to be done before Oklahoma, but it makes for a better situation when we get back! Our home is more organized than it has been in years and our items are all now useable.
Thank you Ben for all your hard work!!!!Only 3 Saturday’s left and then you will get a “rest” in Oklahoma; how does that sound?
P.S. The list grew today. I think we need to finish painting the girls room and all the trim before we leave 
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: blog readers, blogging style, comments on blogs, google searches
Okay, so lately I have had a huge peak in the amount of people reading or at least clicking on my blog. At first I thought it was just a coincidence; after a couple weeks, I started to wonder if I was the new up and coming blog; please refrain from laughing hysterically (you can chuckle however), I too find it hilariously delirious along with you. While I would love to have that many people truly enjoying my blog, I know it is not the case. One quick glance and I can see where my hits are coming from. I find that Google is often the leading cause of clicks on my blog. I also ponder on why the heck I get the most hits from people Googling “Lazy tauns” or something has to do with my “Dog Urine + Clorox = Toxic Fumes” post. What the heck is a ”Lazy Tauns” anyway? Am I really that lazy that Google has found me worthy of placing a spot near the top in their web searches? I don’t know if I should be flattered, appalled or humiliated!
Want to know what I wish the most though? I know you do! Oh how I wish all those people that actually clicked on the blog would read, enjoy and COMMENT on it as well. Comments, I like comments people! Is it really that big of a request that I ask that you simply let me know that you are out there and that not all my clicks are from random, non-reading Google people?!? I feel like I am in cyberspace blogging to myself. Not that it is a bad thing. I actually have found I rather enjoy blogging; I especially love that in blogging I can share moments that I have with my sweet children and husband. It makes me feel less guilt for not getting around to all THOSE pictures that need to be scrapbooked and/or put in a journal.
Is my life exciting? No, not really. I am pretty much an average stay-at-home mom. Do I love my life? You better believe it! I think that I am one of the luckiest people to have so many great, wonderful people a part of my life! There are definitely days that I would like to trade my life, but I think everyone has those days when they have had EVERY POSSIBLE THING GO WRONG! Yeah had a few of those in my lifetime!
So in closing, I want to say to any readers that are actually reading, some even somewhat constant…please comment and let me know you are out there. Let me know if you like or dislike or agree or disagree, anything…just let me know you are there. To the others that find me in their Google search of “Dog Urine + Clorox = Toxic Fumes” and “Lazy Tauns”, I hope you at least enjoy the things you do read!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: cute kids sayings, daughters obsession with lip kissing, kids disgusted by parents kissing, kids embarrassed by parents kissing, kissing children on cheek not lips
KISSING!
My kids are now thoroughly disgusted when my husband and I kiss. We don’t bedroom kiss in front of 
them; the kisses are usually quick “I love you” pecks. Occasionally, if they make a huge deal over the quick peck we will give them a stomach lurching full mouth 5 second kiss, all the while chuckling at their “EWWW, gross”. I remember the day that seeing my parents kisses gave a “eww gross” feeling, now I think how grateful I am that they love each other. Hopefully my children will change their views as they grow as well.
This morning, I had to drive my husband to work. His car broke down and the part to fix it still has not arrived (go figure) so we were borrowing his parents’ pick-up while we waited. This weekend we decided it was time to return the truck and we would just share a vehicle for a while (let’s hope for a fixed car before too long).
As I dropped my husband off in front of his office, he leaned over and gave me the “I love you, Good-bye” peck. From the back seat we heard a protesting 3 year old cry, “Eww, gross”. We both laughed, my husband told us he loved us and dashed into work.
As we pulled out of the parking lot, I questioned my little one on why it was so gross. She replied, “Because that is what it is. I wish I could kiss someone on the lips.”
You have to understand that at our house lip kissing is saved for “mommies and daddies”. We do share kisses with our children and they with us, but it is always on the cheek. This was more what my husband had wanted and what he felt comfortable with than myself but I completely understand why and support it. We hope to instill in our children that lip kissing is special and something that is shared when you are old enough to understand how special kissing on the lips is. You can save it to share with someone other than family. I pondered for a moment on my daughter’s comment of “I wish I could kiss someone on the lips”. I decided to talk to her about it; hoping that she didn’t feel unloved by not being kissed on the lips.
“Why do you want to kiss someone on the lips?”
“I want to be able to kiss someone on the lips and not have them wipe it off. I am big now and want to get married.” She has always hated being called little or a baby. Actually the biggest reason she was potty trained was because her older sister and cousins called her a baby because she wore a diaper and one time she was stinky and walked by them. They made fun of her (which I scolded) and told her only babies wear diapers. After that she refused to wear a diaper and was completely potty trained. While my heart broke for her because of the other children’s ridicule, I must admit that part of me leapt with joy over the ease in potty training her.
My daughters strong desire to be a grown up now often is a source of worry for me. I wish she would just love being little, like I love her being little. I am left in wow and wonder over the desire my daughter has to share a lip kiss. We talked for a while about kissing. She explained that she wanted a love like mommy and daddy and to kiss on the lips. My daughter at the young age of 3 has recognized the strong love my husband and I hold for each other. What a blessing. On top of that, she has the desire to find a love like that. We then talked about when she grows up she will find someone to kiss on the lips. She may not marry that boy but she will care for him. Over and over again she kept saying she doesn’t want that boy to wipe the kiss off his lips afterwards. She was quite concerned over that venture…not wiping the kiss away. After a few minutes of talking she was on to a new subject and my mind was left to wonder why she worried so much about the kiss being wiped away.
As I thought for a while, I realized that if she kisses her dad on the lips his response is “Eww gross!” and then he wipes the kiss away; this is always done in a playful way and he will always quickly follow that response with giving her a kiss on the cheek and asking for a kiss on his cheek, which she eagerly gives. Ben always makes sure to give great feedback and respond with something like, “Oh, I love those kinds of kisses”. It is just his way of trying to show that he LOVES her kisses and loves but she can’t kiss him on the lips; his lips are for mommy kisses and mommy kisses alone.
At 3 years old, our daughter LOVES Barbie movies and Princess stories, especially the lovey-dovey ones. She often tells us of the love she dreams of when her prince will come and she will kiss him on the lips and marry him. She talks about marriage a lot and she loves to see the part in the end when the prince saves the princess, they kiss and live happily ever after. Part of me is starting to worry over her strong obsession with lip kissing. All the boys better watch out, she is on the prowl!
Seriously though, what do I do? She is insistent that she is old enough and she is big enough to get married and kiss on the lips. I have tried to explain that while she is growing and big, she is NOT old enough for all of that. Oh boy are we going to have fun with the teenage years, I can already see it! For now, I will keep reminding her that we love her kisses and that she will find a boy she isn’t related to and one day they will kiss on the lips, and he won’t wipe it away. I don’t really know what else to do.
Any psychologist or experts out there that wants to chime in? Have I scarred my daughter for life and made her overly interested in lip kissing due to not kissing her on the lips?
Oh and yeah, I want to note that although I thoroughly embarrass and gross out all my children when I kiss my husband, I will continue to do it for years to come!
Filed under: Uncategorized
Katybug is such an amazing girl, I don’t know what I would do without her. For a 6 year old she is VERY responsible. I am so grateful for her each day. She brings such an amazing light to my life. She knows what needs to be done each day and she does it. When she gets home from school, she gets her homework out and starts to work on it. When it is bed time she goes to the bathroom and brushes her teeth then asks either Ben or I to get her the medicines she has to take before bedtime. When she is finished eating, she will ask to be excused from the table. Once excused she will take her plate or bowl to the sink and rinse it out.
While so many of these things are just teaching responisibility to your child, I am always amazed at how hard she tries to do what is right and how desperately she wants to please. I can’t express the love I feel for her or the gratitude I feel daily that my life has been blessed with her. I don’t know what I did to be so blessed with such an amazing daughter!!
Lately Katy has struggled with congestion. Since she is on a daily decongestant and asthma controller, we can’t do anything other than run a humidifier for her. Congestation makes the asthma worse, so I am always trying different things to help with the congestion. The humidifier is GREAT for helping her, the problem is it can make the room a bit damp and chilly feeling.
Last night as I went in to check on the girls before going to bed myself, I had to take a double take of my bug. She was snuggled tightly in the fetal position with 3 large blankets surrounding her. As I looked a bit closer I saw that she had her winter hat on her head as well. The room was ANYTHING but freezing (Lyse was sprawled eagle with no blankets) but I guess sleeping so close to the humidifier does add more chill?!? I checked to make sure she wasn’t running a fever, gave her a kiss and headed to bed. I contemplated going and getting the camera and taking a picture but honestly I was just too tired.
Today as I was sitting snuggling Lyse, I thought of Katy last night and how cute it was seeing her bundled so tightly in warm blankets and fighting off the added chill with her beanie hat, something only an ingenious child would think of She tries so hard to always show responsibility and show that she is so grown up that sometimes I fall for it and forget to see the cute child things she does. My children do truly bring me joy! I wish I would have taken a picture last night…it truly was such a cute thing!
Last week my husband and I celebrated our wedded bliss with an anniversary get away. I looked forward to this get away for 6 months and I have been pining for it for the last month. As each day would pass I would look at the calendar and mentally scratch one more day of waiting off the endless sea of days. I know that I can not express in words, deeds or any other way how desperately I needed a couple days away from life with just the love of my life.
When I first married Ben, I always envisioned sexually and sensually charged anniversaries. As time has marched on my vision has changed. Our love has deepened over time and the first envisioned anniversary celebrations tend to be a lot less sexually charged. As I sat in front of the fireplace in our getaway room, I snuggled up a little closer to the love of my life and embraced the peace from that quiet moment.
It is funny how time changes your view. When newly engaged, sometimes only snuggling was such a frustrating venture. While I loved to snuggle, I didn’t fully understand my fiance’s frustration with it. Once married my contentment with snuggling forever became a useless stride. I missed the days of just snuggling. When our relationship blossomed to the point that it no longer frustrated my husband to just snuggle, a wrench was thrown in with children. Not that my children really ruin any moment because I love them dearly; however, there are times I would love to just sit and snuggle my husband without having little hands and feet squirming their way in between.
My weekend getaway was going to be “small hand and feet” free. I had my husband just to myself. The sad thing about it all was after about an hour of snuggling on the couch and watching a movie, I started to miss those little hands and feet worming their way into the middle. It took me all of about 2 hours before I was questioning whether we should get the kids the next morning and let them spend the second night with us in our luxurious room. They would LOVE swimming in the jetted tub and looking out at the mountains from the balcony. Ben read my thoughts and turned down my request before I could even explain all the children would love. He kindly reminded me of how desperately we had wanted time alone and 2 hours was not enough.
The next morning as I got up, I was refreshed and ready for my kids. I had spent months looking forward to 2 nights away and having my husband to myself and here I was planning on how to convince the love of my life that the kids would make the anniversary weekend a better one if they were with us. Silly me! After a long search for SOMEWHERE (anywhere really) that served breakfast, we finally settled on a small mom and pop diner. I continued my plans of the kids coming up to join us but I didn’t get to plan longer before I was not feeling well. I was struggling with breathing (something that is helpful if you want to live). When we got back to our room, I did all the breathing treatments but received no relief.
After several hours of struggling, our mountainous retreat disappeared as my husband sped down the canyon to the doctor’s office. Some oxygen, an xray, another shot in the tushy, some prescription meds and 4 hours later we were in the car driving back to our retreat. The remaining time was relaxing yet sad. Our time alone was limited now and the stupid doctor’s office had taken a majority of the day that I had to spend with just my sweetheart. I was now grateful Ben hadn’t given in and that we did have one more night with no little bodies separating us on the couch.
Our weekend flew past faster than I could have imagined. My snuggle meter is reading full but it depletes fast. It will be another year before I have my uninterrupted movie night. Friday night as we sit to watch a movie, little bodies will once again seperate us on the couch. While I will never count them as anything other than a blessing, I am so grateful that I got my weekend of snuggling my sweetheart!!!
My only request to make our next anniversary better would be to not get sick!
