Me & You

Hello Lover,

You write me things like THIS.

And I write you stuff like THIS.

And we kinda like each other.
Me & You.

Every day I need you even more.
And the night times too.

The list of TOP TEN BEST THINGS I HAVE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE starts with marrying you fourteen years ago today. Everything else on the list, I've had you right by my side. I love that we found each other young and have had the blessing of making this crazy life TOGETHER. Growing together. Learning together. Loving together.

It is hard to remember, sometimes, my life before you were in it. Cause I was always in love with you. Even when you were just a dream in my heart.

Then. 

Now. 

Forever.

Happy Anniversary, Mr. Burns.
You are my life. My best friend. My one true love.

All my dreams begin and end with Me & You.

19 times US

There are so many parts of me that still feel 19. 

Young and fun and LOUD and carefree.

So in love with a cute, strong, and honest boy.

That boy is in love with me and our life is perfect.

Crazy.

And unexpected.

But meant to be.
We're best friends. 

And we know...
We are better together than apart.

We're always a little bit broke.

But we're always a whole lot more in love.

We share dreams. 

And faith.

And taste each other's smiles when we kiss.

Laughter on a Lover's Lips

is a whole lot better than being rich.

This we know. 

At 19.

And still again at 37.

I love you, Burns.
Mad.
Crazy.
So.
19 million more times than when we were 19.
Forever.

Straight but NOT Narrow - thoughts on Marriage and (=) LOVE

(taken from @noh8campaign instagram)

OK. So here's the thing. (I've done this before) I don't blog for forever and then I show up and throw something like Marriage Equality on the table. 

Why can't I just post cute pictures of my kids beating the crap out of each other over candy filled plastic eggs? Why can't I just talk about how my Fangirl life was made when K wrote my name on a bookmark and acknowledged my birthday? It is Wednesday after all. Can't I just write a nonsensical post about What I Wore last any given random day and be done with it? Why can't I just show up out of the blue and blog about the silly stuff? I mean, I hardly ever blog anymore. Can't I just keep it light. Simple. Sweet...???

Again - here's the thing. I REALLY WISH I COULD. But I can't. It's just not me. I blog the things that move my heart. Sometimes that's tiny jockstraps. Other times it's serious ish. 

So here I go...

Prior to this point, I haven't made it a secret that I am liberal. That I voted for Obama. Proudly. Twice. That I support mass health care and welfare and immigration. That I'm fine with giving The Man my paycheck so long as my needs are met and it promotes a greater common good. Frick. I'm pretty much a Socialist in a staunch Republican city and I love it. It's fine. 

But prior to this point, I have refused to enter into any {online} conversations about the pros and cons of gay marriage because my own viewpoint (and the ensuing argument) are not likely to be productive in a cyber forum. Getting into this kind of debate on the blog would only serve to further the debate. Not bridge the gap. And I HATE THAT. It is relationships and love that change hearts. Not political rhetoric. Certainly not blog posts.

But this past week has done a number on my soul and I can no longer stay politely on the sidelines. My parents tell a funny story about disciplining my younger, strong willed, brother. They say that he has always been "standing up on the inside." That even when they sat him down to talk to him about how he had done wrong...they could look into his eyes and SEE that he was thinking in his head, "Sure, Mom and Dad...I hear what you are saying and I respect you, so on the outside, I'm sitting down. But on the inside....I'M STANDING UP!!!" 

I love that story. I feel like I've been standing up on the inside for awhile. But I'm over it. It's time to stand up on the outside. 

This past week social media has been over taken by a sea of red and pink. Profile pictures have showcased these colors as equal signs as well as crosses, both sides equivalently fervent in their beliefs. My personal profile picture was an equal sign. And here is why:

As a Christian, I have a hard time understanding why "we" spend more time speaking against things instead of speaking FOR people. I don't understand why MILLIONS OF DOLLARS are spent working against causes instead of being used to better humanity. 

Is is really possible that "we" think we can BEST show HIS love by being discriminatory? By being judgmental? By being mean spirited? This is the opposite of how HE showed HIS love.

In my heart, I understand the complexities and the nuances of this matter. I also appreciate that the "church" as a whole is made up of humans, and by biblical definition, humans are not perfect. But at the core of my being, I cling to the belief that while we may be irrevocably flawed...even more so, because we are irrevocably flawed...we must walk in Love. We must always error on the side of humility and mercy and grace. We must embrace everyone HE loves and work towards being remembered for what we fought FOR. Not for what we stood against. This is what I want for my children. This is what I believe HE wants for all of us. We must allow Love to get in the way. To override every other emotion, thought, decision.  

Because, guess what? None of us need to alter our personal interpretation of scripture in order to support the basic civil rights of others. I'm dead serious. Think about it. At the very simplest, middle core, crux of the matter, our great nation was founded on the need for religious freedom. Our forefathers FLED their homeland because they were being persecuted. They yearned for a place everyone could openly revere and rejoice in their own God (or lack there of.) The basic necessity for a separation of church and state seems so simple in these terms from 200+ years ago. The right to worship, or NOT worship, is a basic HUMAN right afforded to every person - straight, gay, lesbian, transgender, Christian, Jew, Hindu - in this country. We champion it. Celebrate it. Immortalize it in bells and fireworks and declarations. It's what we are founded on.

So why today, 200+ years later, are "we" feeling threatened? Why are we are no longer championing these values? On what grounds? Are we afraid that committed same-sex couples can't raise children to be just as happy and healthy and secure as committed heterosexual couples? Research has shown this to be empirically FALSE. Are we afraid that sanctioning same-sex couples leads to a "slippery slope" of pedophilia, bestiality and polygamy?  I'm sorry, but this is just absurd. That's like saying eating bananas leads to having sex with monkeys. The correlation is based on ignorance and refusal to face facts. Research has shown that same-sex attraction is not a choice. Attempting to force someone to change their attraction can lead to low self-esteem, depression and even suicide. Furthermore, states that have legalized same-sex marriage have not fallen apart, nor has the institution of marriage been jeopardized. On the contrary, more people have simply been welcomed into this beautiful institution. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, their own beliefs, and their own feelings...but nobody is entitled to their own FACTS. And one person's right to their beliefs should not override another's right to equal protection under the law. 

Your own personal interpretation of MARRIAGE can stand firm. No matter what it is. Because when it comes down to it...how you interpret marriage has NOTHING to do with individual sexuality and vice versa. Furthermore, your religious beliefs have NOTHING to do with the governmental definition of marriage. Ultimately, none of us can really attest to know how God truly feels. I'm straight. I'm married. And I am looking forward to the day I can ask Jesus these very questions myself. But in the meantime, can't we have the GRACE to acknowledge that all of us, men and women of all religions and sexual orientations, are doing our best to seek the truth, and we may disagree? Can we do our best to support the appreciation of differences and stop the ignorance of hate? I hope so. I have to hope so. 

I have seen so many scriptures thrown around this past week on social media. Genesis. Leviticus. But for me...I want to throw around some Matthew. 

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."

It strikes me that if Christians actively FOUGHT all the injustice and sin in our world - the killing, the starvation, the poverty, the corruption, the greed, the gluttony - with the same passion that is applied to homosexuality and gay marriage, what a better place this would be for all of us. 

Did you know nearly a BILLION people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or write their name? 

Did you know that half the world's population - over 3 BILLION people - live on less than $2 a day? 

Did you know that there are 640 million children without adequate shelter today? 

Did you know that there are 400 million children that lack access to safe water? 

Did you know that 10.6 BILLION children will DIE before they reach age 5?

2.2 million of them just due to lack of simple immunizations

SOURCE

This BLOWS MY MIND and breaks my heart. Into pieces. 

This enrages me waaaaaayyyy more than the fact that a woman loves and wants to commit herself for life to another women. Or a man to a man. 

Time and energy and money is spent FIGHTING LOVE. 

When it could be spent on so much more. 

On so much more that REALLY MATTERS. 

Causes that really need us to care. 

Causes that really need us to rise up and champion them. 

Be remembered for what we fought FOR. Not for what we stood against. 

Please. 

"We need to stop giving people excuses to not believe in God. You probably heard the expression 'I believe in God, just not organized religion.' I don't think people would say that if the church truly lived like we are called to live."

-Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God

An At Last Love

You smiled, you smiled

Oh and then the spell was cast

And here we are in Heaven

For you are mine

OK.....aren't my Mom and Dad so cute??!!

These two have been married

THIRTY EIGHT YEARS today!

There are a lot of things I can say about that. 

Like....

WOW.

You're rad. 

Thank you.

I want to be you.

I'm sure it wasn't easy.

I hope it's been fun.

You make it look fun.

You can sustain. 

I know you're comfortable with the pain.

Hold on for one more day.

Bwhahahahahahahahahaha!!!

I'm just kidding. 

(my parents get my crazy. they've known me most my life.)

Happy Anniversary M&D. 

You two have taught me so much about love and marriage and what it means to be a partner for life. I am blessed and honored to have you as an example, to call you mine, and to be able to celebrate with you today! Here's to many more years of love and crazy along side your best friend. I love you more than I can say or write or blog or sing.

Yours Truly,

Your first and most favorite child

Memory Lane

17 years ago, a boy came up to me at a Summer party and took the cigarette out of my mouth. Snapping it in half and crushing it on the ground, he said "Please don't do that." I thought to myself, "Who the HELL does this kid think he is?!" Then we sat down on a curb and had a four hour tete a tete. The next day, I told my best friend I could marry this boy. 

Mateo - my sun rises and sets with your insane smile. You are the reason I believe in fate, in soul mates, and in lifetime love. Our life together is my dream come true. July 10, 1999 was so hot!! It was like everyone's love and excitement and energy for us on that day was raising the temperature. 13 years later, I still feel that way. Being Mrs. Matthew Burns is very hot. And I Flove it. 

Then. 

Today.

Tomorrow.

Forever. 

Yours.

Happy Anniversary, my love.

AVF.

Date Your Mate #1

My
Date Your Mate Challenge
is back!

One of the biggest surprises to me last weekend at Creative Estates, was how many people asked me to start up "Date Your Mate Fridays" again! I was so flattered and happy that:

 a) you missed these posts.

and

b) you desire to date your mate!

So, CLICK HERE to find out the basics of my Date Your Mate Challenge. Then join the fun! Rules for playing along...

1) Complete the weekly challenge and post about it. Must be your post - any fun or creative way to celebrate your marriage and complete the weekly challenge counts!

2) Must be linked to your specific "Date Your Mate" post, not just your blog's URL.

3) Linky is open until the following Friday - so feel free to post and link up anytime during the week. I will post about how I completed the challenge and feature a few of your "dates" in each new Friday's post.

4) Grabbing the button and/or linking to the party is fabulously appreciated, but not required. ;-)

<a href="http://www.bringingupburns.com/search?q=date+your+mate"_blank" title="Mouseover Words"><br /> <img alt="Date Your Mate Challenge" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTHWYQ6r42glKFVLs83yJV0TIHniL9VHTPLKUVPaaacWfi4SjVr3cijdnjzeo___Uk-hvZ1TYx36cJS4TvqJFjm2BuTsp-Lteo05SMv_wV3GC1Gr26ra4mHABW0mCbIXswOYX4Q/s1600/date+your+mate+button.jpg" /></a>

Date Your Mate Challenge - Week #1 Don't Worry, Be Happy

This week, do something that lets your mate know they are appreciated and nurtured. Something that lets him know you are all together in LOVE with the institution of marriage - and HIM! Think of something you know will make him happy, and DO IT!

Right about now, if you are like me, you are thinking to yourself:

"One kid's favorite shirt has gone AWOL. And in between hollering out a second kid's middle name letter by letter (so she can write it down), I'm changing a diaper and changing the channel. I've forgotten to mail the car payment for over a week now. And the treadmill has been calling my name since I hit snooze for the first of umpteen times this morning. On top of all this, I'm supposed to commit random acts of kindness for my husband?!"

Well, yes, that's the whole point.

That's why I call it the Date Your Mate Challenge!

Are you up for it?

I hope so!

The more who play along - the more ideas we'll get to make marriage fun.

Game ON!

HE makes me ME

If you want to take my life and boil it down to 1 thing...
It's HIM.
At the end of the day,
I live and long for, love and laugh with
HIM.
He's made my wildest dreams come true.
And yet...
HE keeps me dreaming.
Of our next adventure.
Our next love.
Our next, next.

What we have is composed of
pictures and Proverbs, reality and riches, fantasy and faith.

Kids and chaos, listening and laughter, football and fun.

Sex and softball, blogs and Biology, He and Me.

WE.

I am absolutely sure,
We've got something special.
It's the ONE THING in my life I never second guess.
Nothing is predictable when it comes to Love.
Except US.
Two more people who will never give up the fight.

Hey Mateo, Aloe Vera Forever.
If I could only ever show, write, express, be...
the love that is inside me for you.
I'll never stop trying.
Happy Monday Lover.

all pictures (except the one of us at the best concert of all time) shamelessly "stolen" from Le Love

Date Your Mate - Week 11

Last week, when I was indulging in one of my guilty pleasures, I came upon a paperback, pocket dictionary. At the time, I didn't know what I would use it for....but it was too good to pass up, and I tossed it in my basket. 99 cents, Peoples! How can you not buy anything HALFWAY decent when it costs only 99 cents?! (This very statement could be reason in itself for a whole different kind of Date Your Mate post. Remember that "Pet Peeves" one I was promising awhile back?? But I digress.....)

After the past few months hiatus...I was a little uninspired when it came time to get serious about focusing on this challenge again. Then I remembered my 99 cent, no reason, purchase and a flash of brilliance came over me.

Date Your Mate Challenge Week 11 - "Define Your Love"

Get yourself to the nearest 99 cent store....dollar spot...bargain depot...and buy yourself a pocket dictionary. (This One is not quite a dollar, but still a total bargain for not having to leave the couch!) Quickly thumb through the pages and highlight every word you see that makes you think of your mate.

Neon Yellow is all over these words in mine:

Good

Teeth

Truck

Destiny

Deltoid

Safe

Mexico

Polaroid

Friend

Football

Ocean

Commitment

Distance

Gift

Science

Dream

Faith

Honesty

Love

Fun

Want

Trust

Father

Forever

Marriage

Sushi

Smile

Dedication

Warm

First

Only

Right

Make

Babies

Sunshine

Happy

Rock

Example

Unconditional

Daughter

Son

Complete

Purpose

Blessing

Meant

To

Be

Us

More

I tied it up with a cute, bright bow and tagged it with this: "Words can't describe what you do to my heart...but it never hurts to try! Let's get our VERB on!" A little Dorky? Maybe...but I'm okay with that. For HIM, I'll be a dork any day!

Are you up for the Challenge? Go get YOUR verb on and have fun!

So Happy Together

Hello Lover,

Remember? That's the very first thing I ever said to you. "Hello Lover. Want a Margarita?" I'm surprised you didn't laugh in my face and turn and walk out. Who was I anyhow? Greeting some random boy at a party at a beach house as "Lover"? Lord help me if Megan or Molly ever follow in my footsteps!

Lord bless me if Wyatt follows in yours. Because the next thing you did was deny the margarita and grab the cigarette I was holding in my hand and break it in half! I was both offended and intrigued. Who was this kid with piercing blue eyes and disarming smile brave enough to call my bluff? We walked out to the curb, sans drinks or smokes, and talked for the next four hours straight.

The night ended with you asking if you could take me out sometime. I answered with a giddy smile. I went home and told my Mom I had just met a boy I thought I could marry.  3 years later I did just that.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think marriage would be this much fun. We're 11 years into it and I feel we've (just in the past few months) come full circle. We've had the newlywed days, the lets have a baby days, the oh crap we're having another one so soon days, the put one foot in front of the other, kids come first, I still love you over the moon but have no time or energy to show it days, the I want more babies (aka a BOY) days, the we are totally out numbered, three kids is awesome/crazy days, and finally the hit our stride, remember US, let's make out and go on dates, you make my world go round, I couldn't do this without you days.

These past few months have been bliss. Never once in the past 11 years have I doubted your love for me or vice versa. But there have definitely been times (months....) when we couldn't show it. There just wasn't the opportunity. Time, energy, need was devoted somewhere else. Devoted to our kids, growing our family, your career, our dreams. I Thank You for never questioning my faithfulness. Never once making me feel less desirable as I gained 80 pounds and birthed three children.

Now, here we are with three of the most amazing, beautiful, healthy, AWESOME blessings. Three LOVES that we made together, out of our love for each other. And I couldn't be happier. The best part...I still look at you, your piercing blue eyes and disarming smile...and get giddy. And now I have the time and energy to do something about it! Our midnight rendezvous, our Ikea dates, our after dinner makeout sessions...I love them all. I love that our kids see us kiss and hold each other everyday. I love that when we start to hug, they run to our side and say "Hey! Is there any room for me?!" I love that we say "NO!" and laugh and makeout some more and then fall to the floor with all three of them and say "Of course, ALWAYS!" I love that we tell them "You are here, and there is room for you, BECAUSE we love each other so much!" 

Matthew, my love, today on your BIRTHday, I want you to know that you are my life. Our love is so much more than a giddy makeout session (even tho I LOVE that, too!) Our love is the reason I wake everyday and know, no matter what, it's all okay. I have faced the scariest, darkest moments of my life and made it through to the other side because the good Lord blessed me with YOU. I don't know what I did to deserve you. Probably nothing. That's why I will spend the rest of my days being the most amazing woman I can be. To honor the most amazing man the Lord has blessed me with.

Happy Birthday Lover. Want a Margarita?

My Own Personal Brand of Heroin

I've gotten a few snarky comments from Mateo about all the RPatz on our "Family Blog." I've tried to explain to him that it's not really Robert I'm crushing on...but more a character in a book. He needn't be threatened. That didn't much help however, considering the character is an ice cold, blood sucking vampire! Mateo just doesn't get it. SO....today being Our 10th Anniversary, I thought I'd do a post on:

The Top 10 Reasons my Husband is Hotter than RPatz

#10 - His smile is off the hook. I am addicted to it. It was the first thing about him that gave me butterflies.

#9 - He looks HOT in a uniform. It may sound weird, but watching him flat back somebody on the field was the second thing that gave me butterflies.

#8 - He looks even HOTTER in a suit.

#7 - He can cut a rug like nobody's business and he makes me a better dancer (which makes me want to jump his bones!)

#6 - He taught me what it means to be IN LOVE when we were just babies....19 year old babies. In 14 years, I've never once questioned his feelings for me.

#5 - He looked like this as a kid!

#4 - He's an amazing Father. Better than I could have ever dreamed of or hoped for...and it comes easy for him.

#3 - He loves me even when I'm being pissy...

or silly

(and as all these pictures show - even through the many adventures of my hair - straight, curly, long, short, blond, brown, or red...God Bless Him!)

#2 - He is, hands down, my Best Friend!The one I run to. The one who saves me. The one I can't be without.

And Finally, The #1 Reason My Husband is Hotter Than RPatz...

HE'S MINE!

Dear Matthew,

"It's like my Birthday...every time you look at me. It's the best thing." You truly are my own personal brand of Heroin. You know I cannot go without you. I turn into a grumpy, whiny, sad girl when we are apart too long. How did we ever survive New York? Ridiculous amounts of money spent on phone bills and plane flights! I am so glad we did...because now look at us!

A decade. A DECADE! You are my sweet, amazing, mind blowing, God given, bestest friend in the whole wide world and I would still say "I Do!" Without a doubt, I would still pick you! After this long I expected that we would be settled down. I expected our relationship would be solid, but not nearly as exciting as when we first married. Boy was I wrong. Every morning when I wake and see you lying next to me, my heart skips a beat. Yes - there is usually a Munchie (or two or three!) between us, but that makes it all the more sweet. My favorite time is when you walk thru the door at the end of the day. The kids cheer your name and swarm you with hugs. You find me and we kiss. No matter what the day has held, in that moment, everything is right, good, bliss, love, exactly as it should be.

I couldn't feel more loved and cherished then the way you make me feel.

I love you more than 1 year ago. I love you more than 2 years ago. I love you more today than a 10 years ago! (Heck...I love you more today than yesterday.) What we have will only grow stronger with time. I can't wait to feel our love in another 10 years. Forever, you have my heart. Thank you for loving me.

~Reina

Virtual Kiss Numero Tres

I remember someone telling me back when I was single that physical attraction fades and puppy love fades....so marry the guy I could see myself laughing with forever. I think I hit the jackpot.
I love you Baby!

Date Your Mate - Week 10

10 Weeks of Dating!! Are you having fun yet? I sure am. Matt and I feel closer than ever lately, and I'm loving being in love with this man. So much so, I find myself surfing the net for sappy, funny, sweet, memorable images. There is some good stuff on YouTube. And so many blogs out there dedicated to LOVE. Which leads me to this week's challenge:

Date Your Mate Challenge Week 10 - "Virtual Love"

This week's challenge is to send your mate a virtual kiss everyday. It doesn't have to be time consuming (unless you want it to be!) Just Google the images of some nouns or verbs that make you think of your mate and you'll be surprised at what you find. Save a few to the desktop and then shoot them to your lover in an email each day with why they made you smile. (I'll put mine on the blog too, just to give you some inspiration!) Make it a simple, fun, colorful piece of evidence that you're head is where your heart is.

Are you up for the Challenge? Get Surfing and have fun!

Here's my Virtual "Muah" to Matthew today. This image makes me think of my biology brain of a husband and smile. He will most likely read the blog and then proceed to tell me the scientific name of this cactus, followed by where it can be found in the continental US. I love that!

Date Your Mate - Week 9

Matt and I say "I love you" many times a day. We also show our love on a regular basis. My heart had to smile yesterday when Megan and Molly were playing "house." Molly was dressed up in Wyatt's too big clothes pretending to be the Daddy and was headed off to work. As she went to the front door to leave, she stopped by Megan and said "Bye Honey. Have a good day. I love you so much!" and then they kissed. I guess we're doing some things right!

What I think we could do more of is explaining our love. When was the last time you looked your mate in the eye and told them WHY you loved them? You can never hear too many reasons as to why you are lovable, right? When Matt wrote my birthday letter and told me reasons why he loves me, I was so touched. Knowing he thinks I'm "the glue" helps me hold it together at times I think I might fall apart. And knowing he thinks I'm his "anchor" and his "sunshine" makes me look at a lifetime as too short a time to spend with this man.

Date Your Mate Challenge - Week 9 "Five for Five"

This week's challenge is to take five minutes to remind your mate of five things you love and appreciate about them. These things could be personality traits, physical traits, maybe actions or expressions. When you look at your lover, what makes your heart skip a beat? When you think of your spouse, what makes you smile? TELL THEM! This first time may be a spontaneous conversation, but I plan to try and make it a regular exercise. I know that reconnecting and sharing with each other like this will keep us close, keep us strong, and keep us in tune.

Matthew, today, the 5 things I love about you are:

1. Your Pearly Whites
   
2. How hard you work
   
3. You truly try to always do the right thing
   
4. Your Delts
5. You send me sweet texts in the middle of the day

Can't wait to spend the weekend with you in Santa Barbara!

Date Your Mate - Week 8

This week's challenge was inspired by a few surprise cards I received in the mail this week. Next Tuesday is my birthday, and this past Wednesday, I found a brightly colored envelope addressed to me in the mailbox! I wasn't expecting it, and it was from someone who hadn't sent me birthday wishes in the past. The message inside was so sweet and heartfelt. It made me feel so good. When I discovered another bright envelope yesterday, I immediately let out a little squeal and did a little dance. (Even before I knew it was mine!)

Isn't there just something special about getting a piece of handwritten love in the mail?!

Date Your Mate Challenge - Week 8 "Write Now"

In this age of technology, Matt and my daily communication is usually through texts, emails, Facebook, and quick cell phone chats or voice mails. I feel we are expressive in our love for each other - we always kiss hello and goodbye, and say "I Love You" several times a day - but after receiving those surprise cards in the mail, I realized I wanted to give Matt that same feeling of being loved through pen and paper.

(the 5 postcards Matt will be finding in his mailbox next week)

This week's challenge is to send your honey a handwritten letter. Sure, it may seem a little silly considering you live together, eat together, sleep together. But just do it! Don't work yourself into a writer's block, just put a feeling or two into words and pop it in the mail. The fact that you took the time to locate a stamp is at least partial evidence of your undying love, right?! Who knows, you and your honey might even become pen pals.

Are you up for the challenge? Add your name below then grab a pen, paper, and 42 cents and get writing! (Unless you're Frugal Freida like me and you send postcards for just 27 cents...)

Date Your Mate - Week 7

I don't know about you, but when it comes to the two of us, Matt and I aren't big gift givers. Basically, we are always short on money. And what we do have, we usually choose to spend it on the kids. Plus neither of us really need anything. We are both grounded in the TRUTH that what we already have - each other, our families, our health, our faith - is really what matters. We also are both the type of personality that gets a little uncomfortable when too much attention is put on us. So birthdays and holidays often pass without the two of us exchanging big gifts. We do gift the token picture of the kids, the last minute drug store item (think body wash, lipgloss, celeb magazine), the favorite candy bar or bottle of wine - but other than that...not much. So I am excited for this week's challenge!

Date Your Mate Challenge - Week 7 "Surprise!"

This week's challenge is to give a few surprise gifts to your mate. For no reason at all! They don't have to be big. Rather - I plan to make them fun, little, thoughtful things I know Matt will enjoy. Things he wants - but he'd never stop and buy for himself. Such as....a new backpack (the one he is using now is seriously 10 years old!) His favorite, but impossible to come by, Wahoo's hot sauce. (Thankfully my best friend married a serious Wahoo's connection!) Chocolate covered pretzels, new razors and after shave, new socks and boxers. So Glamorous....I know! But I kind of feel that's the whole point. These gifts are supposed to show your lover that you know him better than anyone else. And you want to make him happy - in the simplest, littlest, most mundane sort of way!

Are you up for the Challenge? Get gifting and have fun! He will love the surprises, he will love you...and he will love marriage!

Date Your Mate - Week 5

I'm kinda cheating with this week's challenge because it's something that Matt and I already do. But it's still FUN! It's actually one of my favorite parts of every Friday. (Also - I still want to squeeze in some more "playtime" from last week, so I went easy on myself this week!) AND...I added a song to the blog today. It's the first song to play on another blog that I love to visit everyday....and each time I hear it, Baby, it's fact, I think of YOU!

Date Your Mate Challenge - Week 5 "Lunch Buddies"

This week challenge is to make a lunch date with your husband. It's fun to see your mate in the middle of the work day. You both are out of your usual "relationship" atmosphere and because there tends to be limits that come with lunch during the work week, you can enjoy the formality and flirtation that comes with these boundaries.

I usually take Matt lunch at work on Fridays. He's a teacher and we eat in his classroom, at the lab tables, during his 30 minute lunch "hour." You can imagine the limits and boundaries we have being on a high school campus surrounded by his students. He barely kisses me goodbye, even when the classroom is empty! But it's fun to have a quick 30 minutes to connect at a time in the day we wouldn't normally see each other. We usually try and take this opportunity to talk about things we don't usually get the time to talk about....and enjoy the lack of interruptions!

Are you up for the Challenge? Grab some take out or pack a sack lunch, and get Lunching!

Pizza Sunset

Matt and I made it to the beach last night.
With pizza and kids in tow.
Just in time for Sunset.

Date Your Mate - Week 4

I was Mother Hubbard this morning...no milk, eggs, bread, butter, or cereal! So we got dressed and left the house early, hitting McDonald's for breakfast before school. Then I took advantage of having only 1 kid and made it to the grocery store, gas station, car wash (for the outside,) dry cleaners and had lunch with Matt at work before I had to pick the girls up. Then - since it's so beautiful today, I quick made some PB&J's and took the kids to the park where we played our little hearts out!

Hence - just now getting to today's Date Your Mate Challenge. Sorry!

Date Your Mate Challenge - Week 4 "Carve out some Playtime"

Between work, kids, and all the daily responsibilities those two things entail - Matt and my schedules and moods can get pretty bogged down. There needs to be an opportunity to revive from the burnout that comes from being a busy adult and parent! My challenge this week is to balance out our weary week with some seriously silly, childlike playtime together. Maybe we'll play a round of miniature golf, or take a trip to the batting cages together (selfishly - I love to watch him hit.) A ride on a merry go round followed by an ice cream cone sounds like fun!


Matt and I can't always get a babysitter, but that doesn't mean the fun has to stop! If you and your mate can't make it out of the house, do something silly together at home. Perhaps a Tickling Match, Pillow Fight, or a Funny Face faceoff - let your kids be the judge! Want to spice it up? Play a game of Twister after the kids have gone to bed - or hit the shower for some body painting with homemade bubble bath finger paints!

Are you up for the Challenge? Whatever you do - get silly and have fun. If you'd like to share your fun, write a post about your Playtime sometime this week and link back. Add your name below and get playful! Relax, Release, and Rejuvenate!

Date Your Mate - Week 3

Date Your Mate - Week 3 "Recreate Your Rituals"

My challenge this week is to try and remember the little things that took place when Matt and I first got together and bring them back to life! Think back...Were you and your mate knocked out by a particular movie on one of your first dates? Go rent it. Was there a song that served as the soundtrack to the summer you fell in love? Play it — often. Maybe the two of you used to meet for a drink at that little bar near the bookstore? Go there again. All will remind you of those heady early days, and give you ample opportunity to note how your love has deepened since.

One of Matt and my favorite things to do when we were dating was get a pizza at Laventina's - a place on the peninsula - and take it to the beach with a big blanket at sunset. I'm going to make this happen one night this week. The first movie we went to together was Phenomenon. Maybe we'll rent it on our way home. The soundtrack to the Summer we fell in love? Spiderweb by No Doubt. I know it's on my iPod somewhere... This is going to be fun! I'm hoping the more we re-create, the more we'll remember other little things that drew us to one another.

Are you up for the Challenge? I'd love it if you write a post about your early bonding rituals some time this week. I'm excited to get more romantic ideas from all of you!