It’s a #FiveMinuteFriday!
Where a beautiful crowd spends five minutes all writing on the same topic and then sharing ‘em over here.
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..
OK, are you ready? Please give me your best five minutes on:::
Connect…
We sneak off like googly eyed teenagers. Hold hands while we’re driving. The mini-van yawns wide and conspicuously absent of car seats and extra luggage. We need surprisingly little with just the two of us. And it’s so rarely just the two of us.
But this weekend, it’s us. The city spread out before us. Browsing through bookstores with no nagging children or naps. Laying on the beach without worrying about kids sunscreen and snacks and their tendency to wander to the edge of the water where they must be watched with mother’s eyes, lest they be swallowed by the sea.
But we are going back to the beginning where our story started. Before three kids, and a business, and a blog and a life laid down in layers over 14 years.
And now I’m a mom, with hands that soothe the wails of scraped knees or flip crispy edges of quesadillas just in time to fill hungry tummies. Hands that pull children close and turn pages, and clean out chunky white sippy cups long-lost under the couch.
And he’s a father. His calloused hands have worn their work on them, wrangling a living for each of us. Provision for violin lessons, and books, and a four bedroom home with a room for my mother. Provision for orthodontia and pizza nights and a quick getaway for the weekend.
But now, we’re neither. We are girl and boy. Man and wife. A connection that started our story. And now we’re remembering that before these hands did any of these things, they grasped tight and promised, ” I DO.”
Oh my! Sounds lovely. You made me a bit jealous.
Aislinn @ Not Less Than Everything recently posted..Connect
Yes, it was wonderful! We rarely get to do that but when we do, I remember how important it is. I was on a longer than expected blogging break but it was so worth it.
beautiful!
And “clean out chunky white sippy cups long-lost under the couch.” made me laugh out loud! That dilemma to hold my breath for minutes at a time while cleaning out another cup where the milk has turned to something foamy that smells like vomit or just throw it away knowing I will then have to go purchase another over-priced one is a struggle for me every time! Really, you’d think from my reaction when a kid brings me one that I’m about to embark on the greatest moral battle of all time.
Janice recently posted..Guest posting at Dreamer today
Seriously! Those things are expensive! And oh so gross, especially in this heat. The worst is the one I found under the carseat after a week’s worth of temperatures in the 90′s. Needless to say, that one was tossed with no remorse on my part.
What is it about a good “post” about husbands and children? Just when I think I’ve read a post that I can totally relate to, one shows up on the page in front of me about chunky milk and calloused hands that work to provide pizza nights and outings and I realize yet again just how incredibly blessed I am. My husband and I met in 1994 on a telephone dating service! People said I was crazy, and maybe I was! In 1995 we were married. In 1996 I gave birth to our first son, in 1997 our second, in 1999 our third (the second was a little collicky!) and in April 2000 our fourth son came along! I knew then and have confirmed it many times since that I am incredibly blessed and maybe, just maybe a little bit crazy! Having had four healthy boys I’ve seen my share of frogs, fish, dirty socks and yes, a multitude of yucky sippy cups! I’ve taught them how to water ski, put a worm on a hook, cook Kraft dinner and play games. But as I sit here at my laptop out on the deck of our cottage in the small town of Magnetawan, Ontario up here in the Great White North, with a very cool breeze nipping at the bottom of my shirt I can only be thankful. Thankful for the trials, the work and effort and for every cup of cold coffee that I’ve had to endure on account of those four beautiful boys! My husband and I are happily married after almost 17 years and again I feel blessed beyond measure. I have battled and come to terms with depression and Bi-Polar Disorder which is no small feat when you consider I’ve nothing to be depressed or manic about! I am thankful every day for each experience that God has trusted me with. Through happy times with my husband and our children and through times of despair, lying in a mental health ward my Saviour has never left me and I have never left Him. God is faithful! We are a peculiar people and we are made in His image. I tell you people, it doesn’t get any better than that!!!
Blessing to all of you! Have a great weekend!
Thank you so much for this beautiful picture into your life and your story. I am so blessed by this and all that God has done and is doing in your life through your marriage and the gifts of your sons. And as someone who has and still does struggle deeply with depression and cyclothymic issues, I know how our Savior has seen us both through. If only to be able to rejoice at the other end for his unending presence and grace. Thanks sweet friend, for sharing a bit of your life with me here.
Lovely that you are making/taking this opportunity to shuck the everyday responsibilities to be boy and girl again if only for a short time.
Deb Weaver
thewordweaver.com
Deb Weaver recently posted.."Summer Social"
Amen! That’s why it’s taken me so long to get back on this blog. I was enjoying just being for a bit. But of course, now I miss all of you ladies.
Terrific post.
Denise recently posted..5 Minute Friday/Connect
Thanks Denise.
Oh this makes my heart hurt. My dad worked hard. but tried hard to make time for me, too. He was my first love. my first date. the first boy to win my heart. and I’ll never forget that. I don’t have any daughters but know my husband would love on them proper. just like every daughter deserves…
So proud of you for sharing, friend.
nikki recently posted..The Real You
Thanks Nikki, what a blessing to have those memories as a child and a woman of what it means to be loved! A man that can do that is a great father indeed.
This was so beautiful – and a great reminder of the importance of the marriage relationship. We are boy and girl, and in love – underneath the tiredness.
I’m going to try and stop by here more often – I usually only remember on five-minute-fridays. I love your writing. Blessings! x
Tanya Marlow recently posted..Dust
Thanks so much Tanya, I love to meet new readers. I missed this last Friday because I was pretending I was still on vacation. LOL But I’m back now and will hopefully be writing my next 5 minutes this week. I’d love to have you around here more. Stop by anytime.