Two Things - Beauty and Long Suffering

Two practical things Gina does to strengthen our marriage and make our home a better place.

Brings beautiful things to our home

These daisies are an example of something I never think about.  I tend towards the pragmatic and practical, forgetting about the small and simple things that make life better by bringing beauty into it.

Daisies for Scott

Gina knows the Daisy is my favorite flower so she planted them were I see them everyday they are in bloom. I can't explain it but daises make me smile and stop to enjoy creation.  I would always be to busy to plant flowers but my life is better because they are in view.

Long suffering with delayed projects

16 Years and Counting to get this done

Our master bathroom is in bad shape.  Nobody would ever guess the state of our bathroom.  We never let people back here.  I started working on this over 16 years ago.  Some other project or priority or lack of money keeps me from finishing this one.  I'm telling myself with only 3 kids at home this fall it will get done before 2014.  It takes a patient wife to put up with this one.  Every time I walk into that bathroom I am reminded of that fact.

A Picture from the Beginning - We are Blessed

We met at college in 1981. Here is the earliest picture of us together.

Scott & Gina 1982

This was taken the next year. Boy do we look young and thin.  Gina is still that thin but I am far from it.

Scott & Gina 1983

 A few years ago we took an anniversary trip to San Luis Obispo.  The city were we met.  While there we ran into an old friend - Eric.  He introduced Gina and I back in the Fall of 1981.  I will forever be thankful to Eric for that kindness

With Eric - The person who told Scott "You have to meet this girl"

Here we are last summer.  Still rejoicing and thanking God for each day we spend together.

Scott & Gina 2012

We All See Couples Like This

We see this couple when we go to a restaurant. The couple eating together but not saying a word to each other. Each living in their own bubble  You look at them and think, I don't ever want to become that.  Existing together but not living joyfully together.

This touching, Oscar nominated, short film touches on that theme.  Well worth the 10 minutes watch.

HT: Tim Challies Blog 

"This is a fantastic short film with a great message. “After many years of marriage, Walter and Madge have grown apart: he lives on the floor and she lives on the ceiling. They live separate, parallel lives, never talking, barely even looking at each other. When Walter tries to reignite their old romance, it brings their equilibrium crashing down, and the couple that can’t agree which way is up must find a way to put their marriage back together."

A Tip for Husbands

Blogger Erik Raymond makes a great suggestion to improve any marriage - Get A Second Job
He writes:

"So husbands, let me challenge you to come home from work like you are going to work at a job you love in a place you love. Come alongside your wife to talk, listen, and learn her. Play with the kids. Do some chores. Make some jokes. Read the Bible. Pray together. Play a game. Make some dessert. Fix something that broke. Flirt with your wife. Sit and talk. Whatever you do, do it heartily and intentionally like a guy who is there, engaged with his family not escaping from his family."

You won't regret reading the whole thing.  Link - Husbands Need A Second Job