steadfastmom on Revelife

Weblog

Monday, 21 July 2008

Currently Listening
Isle of Light
Swallowtail Jig
see related
Challenge ~ Day 13

There's something that I love about my husband, something wonderful that I want to mention, but I'm just not real sure what to call it. I think it's probably the same thing that makes a man have "sympathy pains" when his wife is having a baby. My husband doesn't necessarily get sympathy pains, although I think he has on occasion, but in our case I think it's more of a wave length or a frequency we get on with each other. I think it's got something to do with being each other's "other half," or maybe that's what people mean when they say they are soul mates.

I always thought soul mates were alike. I'm pretty optimistic and outgoing, and in general, I tend to be in a good mood most of the time. My husband is not. He's sort of quiet and reserved, and he tends to be moody and easily aggravated. I can be flighty and impulsive, he is steady and methodical. He's a thinker and a planner, I'm a worker and a doer. He's more of a listener, I'm a talker. It almost sounds opposite, but it works out well. We are each other's "other half." We compliment each other. It seems like when one of us is is having a bad day, the other one is able to pick up the slack and help out. If one is discouraged, the other is an encourager. If one of us is weak, the other is strong. It's perfect. It doesn't always feel perfect! Sometimes we don't really want to be "complimented" right now, thanks! It's always appreciated in retrospect, even if not at the time. We are wearing the rough edges off of each other... or perhaps we're just wearing off on each other.

I used to think soul mates instantly knew they were a match. They were the type of couples who always agree, as if that existed! I honestly thought for years that being more alike made you more harmonious in your lives together. I figured that opposites attract, but they don't necessarily get along so well, so you should find someone who is like you to marry, and then you wouldn't have as many troubles. I suppose things might have gone a bit smoother if we'd have been more alike in the beginning, but we wouldn't have learned what we know now if we hadn't gone through the trials. I was young and ignorant, and could not see what commitment and the passage of time could create. Now that things are smoothing out nicely, and I can see all the wonderful things we've learned, and the couple we've become, I wouldn't change a thing.

We've come to a more comfortable place. We've learned each other, and enjoy each other's company. We laugh at the same silly things, and we can finish each others thoughts and sentences. We've grown together. We are what I'd hoped we'd be, it just took a little longer than I thought it would. I'm glad to say that after the years, after the process, now I can see, we are soul mates. We are each other's other half. I love it!

Wednesday, 16 July 2008

Challenge ~ Day 12

I think in my last "brag blog" I said that I was probably going to blog in my next one something about my husband being tough. Well, my husband is tough! No, he really is tough! It's not fake, it's not showmanship, not a bunch of hot air and bluster. He's not some macho jerk or a bully. Nothing like that. He's just tough. Whatever it is, he can stand up under the pressure. Oh, he has his moments, everyone has their moments, but when the time comes and you need to count on him, you can. He can take it. He can do it.

Over the course of my life I've learned to be pretty tough myself and I can hold my own. I've always had to. I wanted a man that was tougher than me, someone who could be my champion if the need arises, and that's just what he is. He's big and strong and able. That's dead s*xy in my book! He looks real nice when he's working and sweating, tearing something out, building something, swinging a hammer or doing something "manly" like that. Woo hoo!!

I remember when we were re-doing the laundry room floor. At least he was. I didn't do a whole lot. He was trying to take up the old tile and it was hard work, very tedious and tiring. He was getting big blisters on the palms of his hands so, I offered to help him, but he never would let me. I didn't let him know, but I was really hoping he wouldn't let me, and he didn't! I thought that was sweet.

I caught myself watching him through the back door glass while he was working. He was using this scraper, this big, long handled thing, to try to get under the old tile and scrape the surface of the floor underneath. It would get dull every few passes so he'd have to stop and sharpen the blade on the grinder. Again and again, he'd scrape for a while and then back to the grinder to sharpen the blade. He was deep in concentration, sweating, his muscles were showing, and sparks were flying from the grinder wheel and bouncing off his arms. I probably shouldn't write any more about this....

I tell ya, he's tough! I love it!

Sunday, 13 July 2008

Added a couple of photo albums.

We had an eventful week! For our 17th anniversary we went camping over at Kaibab Lake in Williams, AZ. the first part of the week. Then we went to an absolutely wonderful Robin Mark concert in Phoenix on Friday. Pictures are posted, and blog is to come a little later this week when I have a few minutes back to back to sit down and type. Until then, have a listen to the Robin Mark audio I added to this post.

To be continued...

Saturday, 05 July 2008

Homeschool Article

Article appeared originally in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 6/8/2008

You see them at the grocery, or in a discount store.

It's a big family by today's standards - "just like stair steps," as the old folks say. Freshly scrubbed boys with neatly trimmed hair and girls with braids, in clean but unfashionable clothes follow mom through the store as she fills her no-frills shopping list.

There's no begging for gimcracks, no fretting, and no threats from mom. The older watch the younger, freeing mom to go peacefully about her task.

You are looking at some of the estimated 2 million children being home schooled in the U.S., and the number is growing. Their reputation for academic achievement has caused colleges to begin aggressively recruiting them. Savings to the taxpayers in instructional costs are conservatively estimated at $4 billion, and some place the figure as high as $9 billion. When you consider that these families pay taxes to support public schools, but demand nothing from them, it seems quite a deal for the public.

Home schooling parents are usually better educated than the norm, and are more likely to attend worship services. Their motives are many and varied. Some fear contagion from the anti-clericalism, coarse speech, suggestive behavior and hedonistic values that characterize secular schools. Others are concerned for their children's safety. Some want their children to be challenged beyond the minimal competencies of the public schools. Concern for a theistic world view largely permeates the movement.

Indications are that home schooling is working well for the kids, and the parents are pleased with their choice, but the practice is coming under increasing suspicion, and even official attack, as in California.

Why do we hate (or at least distrust) these people so much?

Methinks American middle-class people are uncomfortable around the home schooled for the same reason the alcoholic is uneasy around the teetotaler.

Their very existence represents a rejection of our values, and an indictment of our lifestyles. Those families are willing to render unto Caesar the things that Caesar's be, but they draw the line at their children. Those of us who have put our trust in the secular state (and effectively surrendered our children to it) recognize this act of defiance as a rejection of our values, and we reject them in return.

Just as the jealous Chaldeans schemed to bring the wrath of the king upon the Hebrew eunuchs, we are happy to sic the state's bureaucrats on these "trouble makers." Their implicit rejection of America's most venerated idol, Materialism, (a.k.a. "Individualism" ) spurs us to heat the furnace and feed the lions.

Young families must make the decision: Will junior go to day care and day school, or will mom stay home and raise him? The rationalizations begin. "A family just can't make it on one income." (Our parents did.) "It just costs so much to raise a child nowadays." (Yeah, if you buy brand-name clothing, pre-prepared food, join every club and activity, and spend half the cost of a house on the daughter's wedding, it does.) And so, the decision is made. We give up the bulk of our waking hours with our children, as well as the formation of their minds, philosophies, and attitudes, to strangers. We compensate by getting a boat to take them to the river, a van to carry them to Little League, a 2,800-square- foot house, an ATV, a zero-turn Cub Cadet, and a fund to finance a brand-name college education. And most significantly, we claim "our right" to pursue a career for our own "self-fulfillment. "

Deep down, however, we know that our generation has eaten its seed corn. We lack the discipline and the vision to deny ourselves in the hope of something enduring and worthy for our posterity. We are tired from working extra jobs, and the looming depression threatens our 401k's. Credit cards are nearly maxed, and it costs a $100 to fuel the Suburban. Now the kid is raising hell again, demanding the latest Play Station as his price for doing his school work . and there goes that modest young woman in the home-made dress with her four bright-eyed, well-behaved home-schooled children in tow. Wouldn't you just love to wipe that serene look right off her smug face?

Is it any wonder we hate her so?

Sonny Scott a community columnist, lives on Sparta Road in Chickasaw County and his e-mail address is sonnyscott@yahoo. com.

Appeared originally in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, 6/8/2008, section 0 , page 0

Thursday, 03 July 2008

Currently Listening
Skillet
By Skillet
see related
Challenge ~ Day 11

I love my husband's level of dedication. He doesn't commit to much, but when he does he never disappoints. If he says he's going to do something, you can be sure he's going to do it. We'll work on getting him to commit to doing more when he finally gets out from behind the wheel of that truck! For now we'll take a weekend away occasionally, or a little family road trip once a month or so, maybe throw in a little honey-do once in a while. He doesn't get a lot of time at home, so I don't want to eat it all up for him. Lately he's had a few extra days here and there, though, so we've been doing things, but until he has a more "normal" schedule and can actually be in his own house a little more often, I'm really not asking him for many commitments.

He's committed to his home life, his family. He does what he has to to keep the place up and to see to our needs. He tries to get the kids the things they'd like to have. But more than that, most importantly to me, He'd rather be here with us than anywhere. I make myself mindful of that one thing often. What a blessing. what a wonderful, wonderful blessing! I know many families who don't have that, and I thank God that I'm so blessed!

He's committed to his job. He almost never misses a day. I can't remember the last time he missed one it's been many years. I know people who call in "sick" once in a while just to have a break. They're sick alright! Sick of their job! My husband's not just real crazy about his job, either, but he'd never lie to anyone and say he was sick just to get a day off. I've seen him feeling so bad that I couldn't imagine someone working like that, but he did. Just a few weeks ago he had a horrible abscessed tooth. His face swelled up and it was pounding and throbbing! It was terrible! If you've ever had an abscess, you know! It's horrible! He couldn't take any pain medicine because he drives a truck. But he worked like that for days before the antibiotic gave him any relief! It's partly because he's so tough (maybe that's my topic for day 12!) but it's also because he's dependable.