HAPPY FATHER'S DAY . . .

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful Father's out there.  Of course my two favorites are my Dad and the Father of my children.  Without the 2 of them, my life would be totally different.  

My dad taught me to be a good person.  He taught me to laugh at the things I can't change.  He taught me to see the good in people, even when it's not always right in front of me.  He taught me to enjoy the little things in life.  He worked hard to give us all the things he thought were important in life.  He always loved us, nurtured us, and respected us.  He taught me how to be a good parent.  And for that, I'm very thankful.

My husband, and the father of my children, is an AMAZING father.  He's always been a good father.  My kids are so lucky to have him.  He hasn't always been the best husband, (he is still a man after all ;) ), but he's ALWAYS been a good father.  He spends time with the kids, he talks to them, he teaches them, he respects them, and he loves them.  Because of him, I believe my boys will grow up to be great father's, and my daughter will know that she deserves someone that will respect her and will be a good father to HER children.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

MARRIAGE . . .

I was listening to a talk show the other day and they started talking about marriage. We’ve been married for 14 years and we’ve been together for 15 ½ years. Wow! That’s kind of a long time!

I remember a few weeks before our wedding talking to my mom. I was starting to get nervous and wondering if I was doing the right thing. It’s not that I didn’t love Ryan, it’s just that I was getting scared. It’s a big step. And it’s one that I don’t think people take as seriously as they used to. Anyway, she told me it was normal, and that everyone has doubts some times.

I'm not sure if it was before or after we got married, but I remember talking to Ryan's Grandpa and he told us that marriage is not 50/50 it's 90/10. Sometimes YOU give 90 and HE gives 10, and other times HE gives 90 and YOU give 10. And sometimes you feel like YOU'RE always giving 90 and he feels like HE'S always giving 90. But that's what marriage is. No one ever said it was easy. And if someone told you that, THEY LIED!!!!

Ryan and I couldn't be more different if we tried. He's a UofL fan, I'm a UK fan. I'm Catholic, he's not. I love country music, he HATES it. I like to talk, he doesn't. I like being around people, he doesn't. He's organized, (or at least pretends to be), and I'm not. But somehow we've made it work 14 years. I know people that have a lot more in common that couldn't make it work that long. And that's what it is. It's work. I remember my mom telling me when I was younger that if spouses would treat each other the same way we treat our kids, there would be a lot less divorce in the world. And I think she's right. I mean think about it. Our kids tick us off, and 5 minutes later, we're over it. Our spouses tick us off and we could still be mad 2 weeks later! Our kids don't listen to us, and we get over it. Our spouses don't, and we remind them a bazillion times that if they had listened to us, they would know what's going on. Our kids say something to hurt our feelings, and we get over it. Our spouses do, and we might remind them of "that thing you said" 10 years later! I think we tend to love our children more "unconditionally" than we do our spouses.

Marriage isn't easy. It's a job. And sometimes that job is easier than others. It takes listening to each other, talking to each other, enjoying each others company, and RESPECTING each other, to make it work.

RYAN . . . .

Ryan left for Taiwan today. He'll be gone until Wednesday night. Then next week he'll be gone 2 days as he's traveling somewhere else. The week after that, he will be in the States. He leaves here on Monday morning, our time, which puts him in Kentucky Monday night, Louisville time. Then he leaves Friday morning Kentucky time, and arrives home Saturday night, Shanghai time. He's going to be EXHAUSTED!

Please keep him, and us, in your prayers as he does all of his world traveling! When he's traveling in the US, it doesn't really bother me too much, but it does bother me when he's traveling here, because I don't know what to expect, and most of the time, I can't even pronounce the name of the places he is visiting!