Love Dare in Action

Yesterday the girls were at my sister's, so I had my day all planned out and a hefty "to-do" list made. I cherish these days that come so infrequently. So when Shaun came into the office and asked if I was interested in joining him in a painting party at one of our vacant apartments, my initial answer was "no thanks (thinking, why would you even ask that??)".

I saw his shoulders slump just a little so I asked if it really meant a lot to him. I could tell it did but he was hesitant to ask me and interfere with my day and plans (he knows best of anyone how well I handle it when my plans and my agenda get changed or interrupted...ugly). Very quickly I remembered the day's Love Dare that had popped into my inbox first thing that morning:

Love Dare - Day 14
Purposefully neglect an activity you would normally do so you can spend quality time with your spouse.
Ecclesiastes 9:9

So, I quickly changed my clothes and joined him. He trimmed while I rolled and we got to be in the same room and talk and just be together. We got quite a bit done and both really enjoyed our time. I don't always get it right, but on this day, I'm so thankful I heeded God's voice.

My to-do list? Yeah, its still sitting there, but I'm so glad I didn't miss that time with my husband! And only a few minor mishaps, the most major being when my roller, thick with paint, came flying off the extension handle mid motion high on the wall. It bounced a couple times across the hardwood floor Shaun just re-finished. Oops!

Purple (Dune) Buggies

Shaun almost never has the Play Station on, but Avery had found one of our two games and starting asking him if they could play. Shaun promised her they could and this is what I overheard that had me smiling and shaking my head:

Daddy: Ok, Avery. What vehicle do you want to be? You can do a motorcycle, or an ATV or a buggy or a...

Avery: Yeah, I want to be a buggy.

Daddy: Ok, a buggy (as in dune). Now, you get to pick a color.

Avery: Do they have pink or purple?

Daddy: Hmm...let's see. Oh! Here's a purple buggy...how's that?

Avery: That's good!

Shaun is definately a good girl-daddy. No black pick-up trucks to race in the mud here in this house. Nope, purple buggies! :)

Kiss It?

Shaun's hands are often banged up from the work that he does. The girls are always very observant of and concerned about all his scrapes, cuts and nicks. Avery likes to put medicine and a band-aid on it and Amanda does the cutest little thing.

She looks up at him and says, "Kis-sit, Daddy? Kis-sit?" Usually, he is a willing participant, but this night at the dinner table as he was about to say "sure", he did a double-take at the food and snots on her face and said, "Uh, maybe later. But thank you."

She didn't seem too offended. :)

And it Begins...

Phase I of our roof project began at the end of this week. It been on "the list" for many years but this was the last straw...

leaking into the girls' room that was just completed in June. Its hard to see in this picture, but there is also a 30-gallon bucket in the middle of the room. Avery started asking to sleep in the guest room every time it rained...it was time.

Yes, there is a person up there...my husband. He is Mr. Safety, but I still did extra praying!

The stripping day was hard...multiple layers of shingles as well as rotting cedar shingles, making for lots of dust. When Shaun and Nathan came in for lunch they looked like the chimney sweeps in Mary Poppins.

And it left a mess for the clean-up crew.

Fortunately, I had some good help...

Actually, our friend Eric came by and donated a day and totally bailed me out!

Could. Not. have done it without all the days and hours Shaun's brother Nathan gave us. He is fairly comfortable up that high so that's where he stayed. On one of his nine hour days he came down only one time and that was to eat lunch.

Our brother-in-law Colombo came today and quickly joined Nathan at the top because he is somewhat fearless also. They worked for most of the afternoon in whipping wind, and the last hour and a half was also dark and raining.

There is so, SO much more work to be done, but today I am so thankful for good friends and family who are willing to give of their time and talents to be a blessing to our family. My heart is full of gratitude and now Avery can rest peacefully in her own room.

Shaun's Projects

The other day the girls and I went to check the progress on a deck Shaun has been building for someone. Its nearing completion, so I wanted to take some pictures. It is gorgeous!

Because of all the curves, some of his Engineering skills also came into play. Is there anything this man can't do?? I love my manly, talented guy!

If you are thinking you love this deck and would like him to build you one, the answer is "no!". When he wraps up this project, he will be re-roofing our house...just for fun!

Ideal Man

On our date night this week, we were in a restaurant with TVs. Without noticing it (I never do), I sat down. Some time passed and I finally saw that the Red Sox were on and so I offered to switch seats with Shaun. He declined, gave me a little smirk and said, "How 'bout you just talk to me instead?" Ahh...a man who's been married a while...smart answer! His response reminded me of a card I saw at the store.

The other day I was pouring through birthday cards, which I find to be a highly entertaining experience. Although, I've found that if one strikes me funny, then its twice as funny if someone you share it with thinks its funny, too.

I was not purposely looking for "this" type of card, but it happened. I hope you are not too offended.


On the front there was a very handsome, shirtless man. He looked something like this:

On the front it said, "For your birthday, Here's the Ideal Man". On the side there was a little wheel to turn and different "quotes" appeared in a little box next to the man:

• It doesn't take my brilliant mind to see how beautiful , unique and wonderful you are


• Let's share our innermost feelings and then go shoe shopping


• Just because I have a six-figure income doesn't mean I don't like to cook


• Why watch televised sports when we could be spending quality time together


• I noticed your car was dirty so I bought you a new one. Hope you like red
  

Golfing Expedition

Last night Shaun and I snuck away for a few hours, feeling the need to reconnect. He enjoys golfing, or at least is trying to talk himself into enjoying golfing and I enjoy walking and talking, so doing the Back-9 (aren't you impressed with my golf lingo) is a win-win for us. Although last night wasn't a win anything for my golfer. BUT, its having fun that counts, right. (My words...Shaun would never think or say that winning doesn't matter about anything.)

I brought my camera and did some playing around with some of the different settings. An evening complete with flowers, sunsets and dinner out...nice!
The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. Psalm 33:5

Livin' Large

Guess where we were today? Yes...taking in another comped Red Sox game. Last night an email went out from one of our telecomm providers that there were tickets available for today's game. My boss jumped on it and got us two tickets!

As you can see from the ticket, we watched the game from one of the luxury boxes. To get to our seats we went through several security check-points and had to show our tickets. It was complete with all-you-can-eat catered lunch, leather couches and flat screen TV.

We chose to watch it sitting in the stadium seats right in front of the suite and oh, what a view! As an added bonus, the actual game was great. They came back to win it in the bottom of the 9th, with a dugout clearing celebration.

It was an experience that I'm afraid has ruined me forever. Never will I be able to sit with the common folk in the bleachers and not think longingly to my day in the sky. :)

I'm grateful I was Shaun's first choice for a buddy. He really wanted to go with me to the game, and I think that's pretty cool. We had a fun day hanging out together and I know it will be one of his life's highlights. All these special game opportunities makes me feel like I should dig in and become a real fan, not one of those "pink hats" my husband and his sports-talk radio guys talk about. (BTW, thanks Mom, for taking the girls for a very long, very last-minute day!)

It's A Man-Thing

This is especially for all of my male readers...you do visit, right Dad and Tim??

Anyway, we are working on remodeling the pool room and we're anxious to get it done, so Shaun's been delegating to me any projects that he thinks I can handle.

One such project was filling a small portion of the wall with insulation. See where the holes are near the ceiling? I just had to drop the insulation (pictured here) down into those cavities. Well, I got up one morning, skipped my workout and got right to it. Its in very little pieces, so it takes a while. By the time Shaun got up, I had completed one side and had started on the second.

This is the funny part of the story. When Shaun came down, he was absolutely incredulous, in disbelief and completely speechless. "You. I. You. That. I. What? I." Eventually he was able to get out that the one bag I had used should be enough to do the entire room, not just these two sections. Apparently, the insulation has to be fluffed before you put it in? I still don't understand, but I'm not sure I've ever seen Shaun at such a loss for words. He simply could not believe what I had done. I don't think I'll be getting that job back.