Forever Newlywed–Love Is

So I’m going to start over the Husband Challenge in October, I figure it might go better, and it’s our 2 year anniversary on the 31st, so why not.

I’m also going to try this Forever Newlywed Friday Meme, I am hoping to do it every Friday, I mean, we all know how well I do with these things! Ha!

I’m going to copy my good friend Jane, who copied Mrs. Alana(go here to link up), who copied Erinn

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Love Is…

Skype Sessions that make you feel like you’re not almost 7500 miles away from one another

Forehead kisses at the airport waiting for him to leave again, and now leaving the airport until you see his plane taxi away

Laui’s while he’s home for 2 weeks because all you want to do is be a tourist with him and spend as much time together until he has to leave again

Our last picture together for 12 months, not including R&R of course

His combat boots with your flip flops

Goofing around at the ER because your wife is a sickly woman

Seeing how great he is with kids, and knowing that one day he’ll be a wonderful father

Writing messages in sand just for him, to show him how much I miss him and love him

Day 6 and a calling out

So I was told by the husband that I’ve been doing a bad job at this challenge, and that he had been reading it daily…well, way to make me feel like a bitch, =P

So I’m going to TRY and start doing it daily now…so onto day six!

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Day Six:

"...whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Cor. 10:31b

Do you recognize and appreciate your husband's creativity? Or do you criticize and demean his efforts? Instead of negativity, determine to be positive. Perhaps you can help your husband see that his efforts are an opportunity to glorify God.

Is your husband the "creative" type? Does he have any artistic gifts? What is that special "knack" he has? Affirm him for his handiwork - a hobby, music, gardening, tinkering with cars, working with wood, etc. Remember: Even if he doesn't measure up to your standards, praise his efforts. If your budget allows, buy him a book or magazine that will continue to encourage his special skill or talent.

If you have a hard time finding his "creative side," understand that men's creativity sometimes is related to their work. Find something he does to make his job run more smoothly or something he does that adds value to his work...and let him know that you have noticed.

Make his day...Praise his accomplishments in public, while he is listening.

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My husband is in the Army, so I’m always telling him how proud of him I am, and letting everyone who will listen just how proud of him I truly am!

I think I tend to criticize and demean his efforts, but I don’t mean to. I do appreciate the effort he puts into creativity and other things. And I am working on not being critical. It isn’t fair for me to give him a hard time, when I get butt hurt when he pokes fun at me.

He is SO very smart, and in being so smart, makes me feel like I don’t know nearly enough to get by. He might not come out and say I’m dumb, but the things he says make it seem like I am. Even though I know he doesn’t mean it that way, I still get butt hurt.

I do apologize when it happens, but I want to apologize now, too. I’m sorry babe. I love you and miss you!

Day 4, 5 and 100 posts

We all know how bad I am at challenges, and this one is NO exception…but I’ll do two days in 1…and I would also like to point out that this is our 100th post! :) so YAY!

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Day Four:
"...let him labor, working with his hands what is good..." Eph. 4:28

We are all accountable for the things we say, both negative and positive words. Have you embraced the challenge to speak only positive things to your husband and to others about him? Here's a suggestion that touches the core of your husband's world.

Some women take their husband's career for granted, and they show it in many ways. Do you "dump" on your husband at the end of the workday, or do you strengthen and encourage him with your words? A wise wife will make her husband feel that she values
and appreciates his work. Let him know that you are glad he is a hard worker. Take opportunities to praise his diligence and resourcefulness to others.

If your husband is out of work, unable to work, or refuses to work, you'll need to be more creative. Praise him for a character quality that you see in him that would be a vital part of a successful career - such as persistence, decisiveness, strength, an analytical mind, organizational skills, good with people, good listener, determination, etc.

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I am SO proud of my husband and what he does for a living. Some people don’t understand what my husband does, or how I can put up with it. Some people don’t find his job necessary. But I do, it’s because of his sacrifices people can speak their minds.

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Day Five:
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." Eph. 4:29 

Another way to describe the positive side of this "30-Day Encouragement Challenge" is by using the word "edify," which means, "to build up." Negative comments only
discourage and tear down. Positive comments encourage and build.

Do you edify your husband before others, adding to his value in their eyes? This is especially important to other family members.

Do you praise your husband to his relatives, and yours? Does your husband's mother know how much you love him? How about your dad? Perhaps you can drop a word of praise into a conversation or letter. Be creative in letting your relatives know that you respect your husband, love him, and support him - in spite of whatever flaws and weaknesses he may have.

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I might not edify him as much as I could. But I have talked to his mom about how much I love him and what a great man he’s become. My father knows how much I love him and how much he loves me. My father loves him too. I think he sees how happy the LT makes me and is happy for me. I know that is how my mom feels too.

Day Three

"...love suffers long, and is kind..." 1 Cor. 13:4
"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ
Jesus." Phil. 4:19 

Love indeed suffers long and is kind. As you consider your Encouragement Challenge, determine today that you will not say anything negative to or about your husband. Speak kindly to him with words of genuine encouragement.

If your husband is considerate of your needs, let him know that you have noticed. Thank him for his kindness and consideration. Thank the Lord that your husband knows how to be both tough and tender.

Sometimes it's difficult for a man to be gentle, kind or tender - especially if he hasn't had role models in these areas. If he's not a considerate person, appeal to him for help without complaining. Let him know that it's hard for you to handle some things alone. Then, when he moves in to help, don't insist that he do it your way. Be glad that he is responding, and express your gratitude. 

Ultimately, you can't expect your husband to make you feel more secure, loved, etc. Remember that only God can meet the deepest needs of your heart.

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You know, one thing I love about my husband is his gentle nature and loving ways. As much as he can get on my nerves, which if I’m being honest, happens, I just love that he can be such a wonderful comfort to me!

Love does suffer long, which is evident in this 12 month deployment. But for us, it has only made us stronger, and more in love. It has showed me that my husband not only loves me more than anything, but that he actually cares about me, and misses me.

He was home recently on R&R, and he told me that on his plane ride back to Afghanistan he was so sad, and just wanted to cry because he was going to miss me so much. He might kill me for sharing that, but the honesty he shared with me, and the fact that I wasn’t the only one who was sad about his leaving made his leaving that much easier to handle.

So, thank you LT, for all your love and support.

Day Two

Day Two:
"...through love serve one another." Gal. 5:13b

How did you do yesterday with your first day of blessing and encouraging your husband? Was it easy? Was it hard to hold your tongue when you wanted to say
something negative? We hope you're off to a good start. (If you blew it, don't give up - start again today!) There are so many practical things you can praise, if you look for them.

Today, find some way that your husband is serving you or your family. Does he help around the house? Take care of the car? Fix things that are broken? If your budget allows, give him a new, small tool with a big bow attached. But make sure he doesn't think it's part of a "Honey Do" list!

Maybe your husband's not a handyman, but does he run errands for you? Let you go
first? Take care of you when you are sick? Help you make decisions? Praise him for his
willingness to serve others. Let him know that you see his unique service as a great
strength.

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Yesterday was pretty easy, I might not have written something positive for the whole world, I did on my blog, but I will do something better today…actually, I posted something on Twitter about how sweet and thoughtful he was because he posted a sweet song on my FB.

The main way the LT serves our family is by being in the Army. He makes the ultimate sacrifice for our family, and for everyone else's for that matter. Right now he’s making an even bigger sacrifice being in Afghanistan. And I’m so very proud of him and what he’s doing, and how he’s doing.

He’s also very sweet to me when I’m not feeling well, and always does nice things for me when I am sick. He’ll go get me something from the store if I need it and he’ll bring little surprises too. As I do for him when he’s sick.

He is the strongest person I know because of his service in the military and for the care he gives to me when I’m sick or just need anything. He’s quite amazing actually!

Day One

Day One:

"The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life." Prov. 31:11-12

To refresh your memory...here's the 30-Day Encouragement Challenge...for the next 30 days:

* You can't say anything negative about your husband ...to your husband...or to anyone else, about your husband.

* Say something that you admire or appreciate about your husband...to your husband...and to someone else, about your husband!

To help you get started, have you ever thanked your husband for "choosing you" above all other women? He found you attractive as a person, and appreciated you. Though many circumstances in your marriage may have changed, let your husband know that you are glad God led you together, and that you want to be a blessing to him for the rest of your marriage. Let him know that he can trust you to be in his corner.

One of the best opportunities to express your gratitude is first thing in the morning. How do you greet your husband each morning? Is he confident in your love? Give him a "wake up call" that he'll never forget-a big "I love you" and an "I'm so glad I'm your wife!"

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So, thank you for being my hubby and loving me. I love you more than anything! Your love for me is hard to understand, because most of the time I don’t feel very deserving. But you show me that love regardless, so thank you.

If I could give you a kiss and hug in the morning right now I so  would. But seeing emails from you in the morning when I wake up is the best thing in the world. I hope you feel the same about emails I send you while you’re sleeping.

I miss you SO much and I can’t wait to see you soon…it seems so far away, but things are going so fast, that it will be here before we know it!

30-Day Husband Encouragement Challenge for Wives

There is an event on Facebook that a friend of mine sent, it’s the 30-Day Husband Encouragement Challenge for Wives.

It’s basically the Love Dare, just in 30 days.

For the guidelines and what you’re suppose to do every day, go here.

I’m going to blog my challenge, I think it might help me finish, and it will be in one place, so if the LT can’t get online for a few days, he can see what I’ve done for him each day.