Marriage Monday- Appreciating Blessings in my Marriage

Today is Marriage Monday. A great time to reflect on my marriage- its strengths and weaknesses.
I just finished reading Mrs. Julie's blog Come Have A Peace. The post today is titled Facebook & Faithfulness
As I read this post I was reminded about the social network site, Myspace.(It is very similar to facebook.) My husband and I had 2 different accounts on Myspace. In 2008 I found messages to my husband from other women in his inbox. I immediately became insecure. At the time that I found the messages Philip was having real struggles within himself, work and our marriage. This began a string of bad decisions Philip was making through out the summer of 2008. (My stomach gets all knotted up just thinking about that summer, and all the bad, irresponsible decisions Philip made) Now I can appreciate that time of struggle in my marriage. The summer of 2008 brought me so, so much closer to God and my relationship with Christ was so strong! I prayed AT LEAST twice a day for my marriage and my husband. I prayed more for Philip than I prayed for my kids, myself or parents!
I have recently deleted the Myspace account I had for a few years. I am now on facebook and have been for a while. Philip still has his account with Myspace, but very rarely signs into his account. I always pray that Philip will not open an account with facebook for the exact reasons stated in Facebook and Faithfulness.
I have experienced a lot while Philip was an active user on Myspace. I now see how many people that Philip and I both know from school or past encounters. I think I would become very insecure if Philip had a facebook account (still praying about my insecurities). I praise God that Philip does not show any interest in signing up for facebook. I pray he will never have interest in any other social network sites again! I trust Philip, I just don't trust the intentions of all women out there.
Well I am going to thank God for the many blessing he has blessed my marriage with. During the summer of 2008 I honestly thought my prayers were going unheard. I would have never imagined the tremendous changes in Philip were possible. How crazy was I! It was very, very hard for me to see anything during the "storm" in my marriage. The storm has since past (it was about a 4 month long "storm")and I can see how AWESOME God was, is and always will be! I know I have blogged about the many positive changes in Philip and in his personality.
Now every time it begins to even slightly drizzle on our marriage- little arguments here and there, I go STRAIGHT to God in prayer! I know everything and anything is possible for God and I am a witness to his amazing, awesome, mighty power! I encourage you to pray for your husband daily! Never give up on praying for him. It may take a few weeks before you see how God answers your prayer, maybe 4 months, maybe longer. Just be fervent, persistent, and faithful as you cover your husband in prayer. Recruit all your "Prayer Warriors" to help you lift your husband up in prayer! Your prayers will be answered. I need to remind myself of this too!
A good book to help you through storms in your marriage is The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian. I took this book everywhere I went! I still take this book with me where ever I go (when I travel)
Have a wonderful day as you reflect on your Marriage this Monday!

What a Wonderful Week!

Monday was the girls last day of school. Joslyn graduated from elementary school. Joslyn made all A's on every single report card while in elementary school! How awesome is that! Joslyn received the President's Award for Academic Excellence! She earned this award by maintaining a GPA of 90 or above for the entire school year! We are extremely proud of her!!

Joslyn and the school principle, Ms Holt

As I have mentioned in previous posts, Allison did not receive numeric grades in 3rd grade. She will receive numeric grades in 4th grade. Allison did very well this school year too! We went to a local German restaurant to celebrate the girl's hard work and wonderful success.(I forgot to take my camera to the restaurant) We actually walked to the restaurant. It was a very nice evening and we enjoyed dinner outside!
So we really don't have many plans for this summer. We are leaving in a few days (notice my countdown in the sidebar) on a cruise. We will also spend a few days in Venice, Italy! We are all very excited! I would like to make a trip to Berlin, Germany sometime this summer and I would also like to visit the Black Forest! Hope you all have had a wonderful weekend!

Not Passing up the Small, Precious Moments!

Philip and I went to the middle school to register Joslyn for 6th grade. When I came home I felt sick to my stomach. I didn't feel good at all. I remember having a similar feeling the summer before Joslyn began kindergarten. I was so nervous about Joslyn starting school. I worried about who, if any one, would tie her shoe laces when they came undone. How would Joslyn be able to carry her very own lunch tray with out dropping it....!
As Philip and I walked into the middle school the kids were changing classes so the halls were crowed with students. All the kids looked so tall, the lockers looked big...! I'm just not ready for Joslyn to go to middle school! When I came home I could not wait to see Joslyn. I missed her so much! Joslyn came home, dropped off her backpack, put on cooler clothes (it was hot today) and said to me, "I don't have any homework. I'm going to go play outside with Mia. I will be back home before 6pm"  (the girl's have to be inside every evening before 6pm. I try to have dinner on the table by 6 or no later than 6:30) and out the door she went!
Well at 9pm Joslyn and Allison went to their beds. I went to lay down with Joslyn in her bed first and planned to lay in Allisons' bed there after. Joslyn told me ALL about her day at school and what she did outside after school. I really enjoyed spending that one on one time with her. It was special. I plan to keep it up every night until she doesn't want me to anymore (I pray she always wants to spend that special time with me).
Joslyn sounds like she is really looking forward to middle school. She is excited about having the freedom to sit wherever and with whomever she wants at lunch time. Tomorrow Joslyn and the rest of the 5th graders will walk to the middle school for a orientation and walk through of the school.  I can't wait for tomorrow night- to lay with Joslyn in her bed and hear all about it!

The girls last day of school is Tuesday June 15. Allison has asked a few times if we could have a picnic outside. I am thinking about having Allison make a few invitations and invite a few of her girl friends over. We can have a picnic by the BBQ pit area behind our house one day next week after school is out for the summer. I will let Allison do most of the planning and all the inviting. Of course I will limit the number of invites to 5 girls! So I will post pictures next week!
My girls are growing so fast! I can't allow these precious moments pass me by!

Marriage Monday ~ Still Working on Lower my Expectations!

I participate in Marriage Mondays every week (or at least try). I found Marriage Monday on Come Have a Peace! I encourage all my blog friends to do the same!

This past weekend did not have a great start. During the middle of last week Philip told me it was mandatory that all the soldiers in his company attend the FRG (Family Readiness Group) meeting on Friday. I don't attend FRG meetings anymore since Philip is home and not deployed. On Friday the FRG meeting was held at the bowling alley. One of the perks to attending the FRG meeting was one free game of bowling. The girls, Philip and I went. I was a little upset while we where there. Philip was off handling business with soldiers and the girls and I were off bowling by ourselves. I felt like Philip was totally ignoring me. I was upset. I really didn't want to be there in the first place. I had to be home by 5pm because we planned a Going Away Party at our house for Joslyns good friend (the party started at 5:30). So Philip and I left the bowling alley upset at one another. I didn't talk to Philip the rest of the night. I woke up Saturday morning and after getting breakfast to all the girls I checked facebook. I remembered that I had RSVPed to a friends baby shower that had already started about 1 hour ago, and I didn't even have a present yet! I woke Philip up and told him he would have to watch Moriah because I had to go to this baby shower for about 1 hour. I quickly got dressed, went to the PX, bought the gift and went to the shower. I was late, but I'm glad I was able to visit with some ladies from the chapel and give Keeley her gift. (While I was at the shower I received another invite to a birthday party on Thursday.) I came back home and I was still a little upset with Philip from the evening before. The Volksfest (carnival) is in town and it's right across the street from our neighborhood. I began getting the girls ready to go to the Volksfest and Philip asked if he could go with us. I told him yes, but I was still upset with him about the bowling alley. He told me he was sorry. He just had to take care of somethings since he is the acting platoon sergeant right now. I really do need to work on lowering my expectations so I won't set myself up for disappointment. If my expectations are lowered then when Philip does show lots of attention to me I will be pleasantly surprised!
We enjoyed the Volksfest so much on Saturday! Joslyn had 2 friends come to the carnival with us. Her best friend Milla was leaving Sunday and moving back to the states. This was a great way for Joslyn and Milla to spend their last day together! I'm so glad we all went and had such a blast!

Sunday we went to the Wildlife Park here in Schweinfurt. It is similar to a zoo, but on a much, much smaller scale and it's free. There is a little water park there too. We packed a cooler and some snacks and spent Sunday afternoon at the Wildlife Park. We ended up having a really REALLY great, AWESOME weekend!

Marriage Monday ~ Patience

I know today is not Monday. I  really like sharing with Come Have a Peace on Marriage Mondays and I can ALWAYS use all my Prayer Warriors as well as all the prayers you pray for me and my marriage! So today is Wednesday, but this is my Marriage Monday...

Our car is a 2002. It's an old car and showing its age. Last year I had to have a few senors replaced. The total bill came to about $900. We have not had any other major problems with our car since last year. For about a month now our car (in Philip's mind) is falling apart. There are a lot of problems with our car, but I don't think they are major problems. We need an oil change (regular maintance on any car, new or old) and new tires (something every car needs every few years or so) Our car does have some minor problems. I don't think its necessary to fix these minor problems all at once.
We are down to only 1 car. Last summer I went home to San Antonio. While I was visiting I was using Philip's (1997) Suburban. It was stolen from my parents driveway. We were trying to sell the Suburban anyway, so I wasn't sad that it was gone. I was more upset that someone stole something of ours! I always knew in the back of my mind that eventually we would get a 2nd vehicle.
Philip has shown a significant amount of intrest in buying a 2nd vehicle just within the past few days. We only have about 1 more year to pay off our Explorer. In my own thoughts I was thinking that we would pay off the Explorer and just continue to have 1 vehicle for a while, save some money, or travel, or both. I am convinced that we do not need 2 vehicles over here. I am asking for prayers that Philip won't jump head first into a big purchase like this.
Philip is also peddling with the idea of using the Explorer we have now as a trade-in and buying 2 BRAND NEW cars! That is just a absolute crazy idea. I just don't understand how he thinks we could possibly afford 2 car payments. It reminds me of a toy. Kids will say, " If you buy me this toy I won't want ask for anything else". Philip says, "This car is causing me too much stress. If we buy a new car I won't have that stress anymore". We will ALWAYS have stress, especially with 3 kids and they are all girl's on top of that! If a kids shoe lace tears do we go out and buy another expensive pair or just buy new shoe laces (I would buy new shoe laces)? When the subject comes up I get very anxious and both Philip and I begin to raise our voices. I need patience. I pray for patience. Please pray for us. Of course I am praying too. I am going to give God my anxeity and all my concerns! Thank you so much for your prayers (and I'm calling you mom, to talk to you about this)