Keep Love Alive [Part 2]

Todd and I are planning on getting married pretty soon (who knows when, actually, because I'm so bad at wedding planning ... but that's a story for another day).

The pastor of our church has been coming over every Sunday evening to do some premarital counseling.

We are absolutely loving it.

Right now, we're focusing on communication and conflict.  Not because we have too much conflict, but because handling conflict constructively is essential to staying married.  The "title" or "motto" of the whole thing is to fighting FOR your marriage.

What I'm learning most right now is that so much conflict is a result of actually wanting to be more a part of your love's life.  That's odd, huh?  But it makes so much sense.

Talking to our pastor and working through this book has been so enriching to our life.  So today, in honor of my loving pseudo-husband, I'm going to post some random photos of us together over the past 3 years. Here we go!

First Photo of us snapped EVER.

First Wedding

About to board my first airplane

I think this is our first Christmas ... not sure, though.

In Puerto Rico in a Bear Grylls-style Beach Shack.

Dinner for his work - 18 weeks pregnant.

Now, for the mushy stuff...

To my sweet Bangel,

I am so thankful for you.  I am so happy to be by your side in this crazy life.  You are the most amazing pseudo-husband any woman could ask for.  I am in awe of what an amazing father you are.  You continually show your dedication to living a Godly life and staying close to Jesus.  I think you're right; I think that loving Him first does allow all the other areas of your life to fall together.  You're doing such a wonderful job in your role of man.  I am so proud to call you MY man.  You're the love of my life, and I wouldn't change a thing about our love!!

Have a good day, y'all.  Go love on your man! He's good to you!


PS!! My best friend, Marissa is giving away a BLOG MAKEOVER! She did mine, and I LOVE it! She was so easy to work with, insanely creative, and took care of it all super fast!  Go enter the giveaway here .  Read her blog, too.  She's SO FUNNY!!

Keep Love Alive: 1

I think if you talk to any old, wrinkly couple, they'll tell you that laughter is one of the keys to having a successful relationship for all their years.

Well, Todd, nor I, are very funny people.  I mean, I think he's hilarious, and I keep him laughing pretty good, but most people wouldn't really classify us as "the funny couple."

However, we laugh together a lot.  Over really, really stupid stuff.

Which brings me to my point.  For Saul's birthday, we decided to get him some bath toys.  Every kid needs bath toys, right?  And it's like a right of passage for a kid to have those foam alphabet letters that stick to the tile when they're wet, right?  Of course it is.

Saul is more interested in sticking them on his chest and squealing with glee about that.

Todd and I LOVE THEM.  We have so many games that we play with these little letters. 

One game is to try to toss them at the wall and see if they stick.

Another game is to stack as many as you can on top of each other and see if they float.

Our FAVORITE game is what I'm about to share with you.  When either of us takes a shower, we try to leave words or phrases for the other on the wall.  That may seem easy, but it's not.

I only take out a handful of letters and change them out weekly for Saul.  I mean, what is he going to do with the entire alphabet? 

We absolutely die laughing every time we go into the bathroom.  The phrases are so stupid and make NO sense, but for some reason, it turns over our "giggle boxes" a-la-second-grade.

Here's some of the messages we've shared this week.

It's the little things, people.  Little things can make or break your relationship.  I'm telling you!  I hope that today, you do something silly with the person you love and laugh until your stomach aches. 

Love, M