Husband Tag - I'm it

-What is your husband's name? Graham Stephen

-How long have you guys been married? 6 1/2 years

-How long did you date? dated for 4 months, engaged for 4 months - 8 months total

This pic was taken at the PNE on one of our first dates

-How old is he? 29 until February

-Who is taller? Graham - more than he looks - he has terrible posture! :)

-Who can sing the best? My voice is more "trained" than his but he has a very nice singing voice.

-Who is smarter? He has more formal education than me - DEFINITELY knows more about the computer than me, but I know more about children, household running (bills, insurance, etc) - I would say we're pretty even in this regard.

-Who pays the bills? Me. But it comes out of our joint account & is often discussed at length by both of us - he knows what is happening when it comes to the bills - I just do the actual task.

-Who does the laundry? Me - unless it is a desperate & unusual circumstance & then there are many detailed instructions. This has gone BAD in the past! lol

-Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do. Lying in bed, I'm on the right. Graham's on the left. This is the way is has usually been - we have switched when necessary as I need to be closest to the door - first contact for wayward children :) But it is usually me on the right.

-Who mows the lawn? Graham - but honestly, our backyard is more of a "mudhole" which doesn't require much mowing & the front is shared with our neighbor who's teenage son usually gets to it before us. So, really neither of us at the moment.

-Who cooks dinner? haha! I am just at the end of my busiest photography season so we have eaten take-out WAY more than usual, or than we like to. I often cook dinner, but Graham is always open to helping me with this.

-Who is the first to admit when they're wrong? Definitely Graham. First to apologize, too.

-Who kissed who first? It was one of those PAINFULLY long drawn out moments. You both know it's going to happen but it was taking FOREVER... I caved first. So me, I guess.

-Who wears the pants? There is give & take in this department. I tend to be more rigid about my opinions but Graham is no push over. In fact, sometimes I think he knows me so well that he manages to win, while letting me think I won. lol

What a man :)

I tag Krista K., Alana & Angie :)

Gratitude

I heard a psychologist on a radio talk show yesterday who said, "The average person says 'thank you' approximately 100 times per day - if you work in an industry that deals with people, it is probably closer to 300 or 400 times per day."

The thought occurred to me after hearing that - thank you doesn't always equate with gratitude. Just like "I love you" can become more a closing on the telephone than a proclamation of emotion, if the words are not held as special.

So, I want to to be very clear today...

I am GRATEFUL for my body - in all the frustration it brings me for not "looking" how I wish it would, yet I have health - for the fact that I have been pregnant quickly every time I've wanted, that I have had healthy, uneventful pregnancies & beautiful healthy babies. This is mindblowing for me still - we can MAKE another human... amazing.
For my ability to dance & sing & generally enjoy all that is around me.

I am GRATEFUL for my husband - there were times in my life that the thought of being this consistently & unconditionally loved seemed beyond what I was capable of receiving... then he came along. He is my absolute favorite person in the world & I would not be all I am without him. For the father he is and all that he contributes, financially & otherwise to keeping our family balanced. For often watching our children all day on what equates to his ONLY day off in the week, so that I can pursue my dreams & enjoy my talents.

I am GRATEFUL for my marriage - for the simple ease of our relationship. For our ability to talk & communicate without fear of rejection or reprisal. Someone once asked me after Graham & I got engaged how I knew that this was "it" - I replied, "Because it's like breathing." It's literally the easiest relationship I have ever had - to quote Ever After, "He is my match in every way." I have never, in all my time spent with Graham, had to pretend for ONE minute that I am anyone other than who I am. He knows me better than anyone else, & loves me completely.

I am GRATEFUL for my children - as every mother believes, I have the children that were MEANT for me to have. As a family, we are a perfect match. I am so grateful that my children generally want me to be happy with them. They CARE that I am pleased with them. We have our good days & bad, but in general I truly ENJOY my children. I am SO grateful for that.

I am GRATEFUL for my religion - for all it has taught me about myself & my relationship with God & my Savior. For the security that gives me in my life & the help it gives me in teaching my children about who they are & what they should strive to accomplish in this life.

I am GRATEFUL for perspective - for my ability to disect a situation in my life - good or bad - & (sometimes with spiritual support) come up with reasons that help me to learn from these experiences. For my ability to look to the future & have a clear idea of what I want my children to remember about their childhood & the clear goals to accomplish it.

I am GRATEFUL for good friends - the support that they are to me & the "sounding board" when I need it.

I am GRATEFUL for family - both that which I was born into & that which I married into.

I am GRATEFUL for employment - the fact that my husband has a job that both allows me to be home with my children during the day & also allows HIM to be home as much as he is to be an active role in our childrens' lives & to support me in creating & running my own business. The fact that people (sometimes strangers) allow me into the most personal times in their lives to capture their memories is something I will never take for granted. And then they PAY me for the privilege! I am truly blessed.

The more I think about how much I have, the more I realize how little I am without...

My cup runneth over...

The Anticipation

It's day 1 - the first day of 3 that I will have to endure without my hubby, Graham.

In our church, he holds the volunteer responsibility of Young Men's President (similar to a youth pastor) - over the youth program for boys aged 12-18. Our church's youth program employs the Scouts program coupled with our faith developing program called Duty to God in order to help the boys develop into well-rounded, great men. I have a great love & testimony of these programs working together to change lives & help boys become incredible men.

It is because of this testimony that I am willing to (though with some trepidation) be left with my children a few times a year while Graham goes on various youth retreats & camps, to support these youth - be a role model for them, build relationships with them & give them character building experiences.

I often think that the anticipation of my husband leaving is worse than him actually leaving. What I imagine happening in his absence is often much worse than how it actually goes. I like to believe Heavenly Father is blessing us for our sacrifice & therefore, my children do actually behave quite well while he's gone.

This week he is in Manning Park on a youth retreat... which means he doesn't have cell phone reception. It is also the summer & my husband is a teacher... which means all of us (especially my kids) have gotten very accustomed to having him around.

I often don't realize how much I truly ENJOY being with Graham. He is my absolute favorite person in the world. He entertains me so much with his funny ways. When he isn't here I really do feel the difference. Quite frankly, I get bored. I love my children SO much, but of all the people I have called "family" in my lifetime, Graham is the only one I chose. Because I'm not frequently given the opportunity to do so, it always surprises me how MUCH I miss him when he's gone.

So, the anticipation of his leaving usually makes me somewhat nervous, but now I get to anticipate his return :) Absence doesn't necessarily make the heart grow fonder, but it definitely gives me a good reminder of what a great man I married & how much he contributes to our home.

In younger days...