Back from Block

We're back from an incredible 5 days on Block Island!!! This has been a tradition for us for 6 years now. Colombo's parents, Colombo & Karen, their friends, Jim & Sandy, me and Colombo, and my sister Lisa & Shaun all go over on Colombo's parents' boat The Daydream and dock at Payne's. We stay on the boat and from there we have a one mile walk to the beach or into town.

We went into town one night and played cards on the deck of one restaurant. We also did our traditional fire on the beach one night. We rented bikes and did the whole island one day. We spent several days at the beach. Our weather was gorgeous!!! Not too hot. It's always an amazing get-away. It feels like a paradise island, with all the charm of New England. It's easy. It's relaxing.

We're very grateful to have gone another year and appreciate my Dad (Pop & Kiki) for taking such great care of the four kiddos.

Mohegan Bluffs
True Love Forever

This is the guys jumping off the pylon right near our boat. First Shaun, then Colombo. I'm sorry I had my camera sideways, and I can' t rotate it now and I KNEW BETTER!

Back From Boston

We spent 2 days in Boston thanks to a Telecom trade show Colombo had to go to for his business. He and Lisa (who works for him) both needed to attend, so this time the spouses tagged along. And let me tell you, corporate America knows how to wine and dine! Every time Colombo takes me to one of these 'things', I'm amazed at the money that just flows.

We arrived at the hotel on Sunday evening and met up with Shaun and Lisa for dinner. They had attended the complimentary Red Sox game, complete with catered tail-gating. We ate with them and then got to bed.

On Monday, Colombo and Lisa took the T into the city. Shaun headed for the golf course and I was content to go to the mall across the street for lunch and then lounge by the outdoor pool. Then Shaun and I drove in to meet Colombo and Lisa and about 75 other people for an evening Boston Harbor dinner cruise. It was gorgeous! We watched as the big, round, orange moon ascended into the sky. The food was terrific. The DJ was loud! The drunk women dancing were embarrassing. Open bar has a way of bringing out the worst in people.

On Tuesday, Colombo and Lisa again took the T in for training. Shaun headed home to pick up their girls. I killed some time in the room til check-out, then headed back to the mall. I drove into the city to hook up with the others for a Duck Tour. I'd seen them many times, but had never done one. YOU MUST! It was fun, entertaining, relaxing, educational, terrific! Be sure to ask for Howie. He was our hysterical, over-the-top, cheeks hurt from smiling, stomach hurts from laughing- driver and tour guide. After about 2 hours of seeing the sites from both land and river, we were dropped at Vinny T's for another yummy and FREE meal.

It was a nice, quick get-away, thanks to Ninny who watched the kids. Only 2 nights, but we got to live the 'high-life' for a while where everything is comped in hopes that Colombo will come home and sell more of 'their' product.

I did not have my camera. It was safe and sound in the diaper bag 2 hours away, but if Lisa got any pictures, I'll post them later.

The Excellent Wife, chapter twenty-one

"If you are in an especially difficult situation, you must seek your comfort and hope from God. He is to be your refuge and your strength. Let Him talk to you through His Word. Spend a lot of time in the Book of Psalms. There you will find Psalmists who experienced the same emotions you are feeling. See their thoughts about God and experience the same comfort and hope from God they experienced."

This chapter...the FINAL chapter...dealt with The Wife's Sorrow. Peace used the chapter to teach us how we are to respond when a husband's sin fills us with sorrow. Sorrow is inevitable. Life happens and sometimes it hurts. A sinful response would be to be overcome with grief or to take revenge. But she writes that "Godly sorrow is manageable. It co-exists within your heart along with the peace of God, the joy of God, and love for God and others."

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21

I think this verse sums up the chapter. God does not desire that we be grief-stricken. When we look to Him, He will lift our burden, heal the hurt, and lead us to peace, joy, and love. Sorrow can come from a husband's sin, or by other people or events as well, but the theme of the book resounds again.: We have the responsibility of responding in a God-honoring way. When this race is over, we will be judged, and we need to press on and be sure we are right with God, no matter what others around us might be doing.

And so this concludes "The Excellent Wife". The "nuggets" that I will take from the book have the power to revolutionize my marriage and my thought process. I think the most important concept I was impressed with / convicted of (whatever you want to call it) is accountability for MYSELF before God. It's been a fun "assignment" to each week read the chapter and type out my thoughts. The book will be a helpful reference to hold on to and use when specific situations or struggles arise.

Appropriate Attire?

Yup! The middle of August!

That's gonna leave a mark!

It was Nathanael vs. treadmill at a friend's house. When he got it up to '10', the treadmill won. The next day he was telling everyone he fell off the escalator, which sounds far more dangerous. He knew better, and like I always tell him, "Disobedience always lead to trouble."

The Excellent Wife, chapter twenty

The Wife's Loneliness...

There are many wives who are extremely lonely even if they are married. Sometimes they feel lonely because their husband is withdrawn, but sometimes they feel lonely because their sin and discontent has kept them from being grateful and they wallow in self-pity.

Peace gave a number of examples of 'lonely' people in the Bible, the most poignant to me was the picture of Jesus hanging on the cross, breathing his last, and crying out for his Father, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me? (Mark 15:34) I was so struck by the anguish of His words and the realization that He died alone.

A wife always has control over how she will respond to her circumstances. I remember being at a marriage conference and within the first 5 minutes of kick-off, we were standing facing our spouses. As we looked at each other, the first thing we had to repeat was, "You are the second most selfish person I know." Everyone giggled a little, but the truth of that statement really put things into perspective.

The second statement we repeated was, "You are not my enemy." Now I didn't really think of Colombo as my 'enemy', but my attitude at times had been such that I felt like he was wrong. He didn't do that right. I wish he were more spontaneous. Why doesn't he treat me like that?...and the list can go on and on. And what I realized at the conference which has stuck with me is that any kind of discontentment that creeps into our relationship WILL make him the 'enemy'.

Peace says it like this, "Cultivate an attitude of gratefulness wholly trusting in the goodness and sovereignty of God."

A woman's loneliness may be a result of her husband's sin. Perhaps she is lonely because he spends all of his discretionary time with the guys fishing and golfing instead of with her. Perhaps she is lonely because he views pornography and she feels as though she is unsatisfying. Whatever the 'cause' of loneliness, she has the CHOICE of how she will respond. Will she make it worse with self-pity? Us girls are pretty good at this. Will she realize that she really isn't alone, because God is always there? Will she then sin and be selfish and withdrawn to get back at him?Will she praise him despite the storm?

If you are lonely, know that Christ desires a close and intimate relationship with you. Draw close to God and He will draw close to you. He'll fill your need and your longing and what He has for you is better than all of your desires.

Photo Contest

I heard about this 'Summer Fun Photo Contest' hosted by 5 Minutes For Mom and decided to throw this picture in. The grand prize is $500, so check it out!

Another Missing Tooth

Madison lost her second tooth (Aug. 3). The top one above the one that came out last week was pulled by dear old Dad upon her begging and pleading. It was in her way and she wanted it out! So now the left side of her mouth has a gaping hole. She still looks just as sweet as can be.

Verse For Today

But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because He has been so good to me. -Psalm 13:5, 6

Hallelujah (Your Love is Amazing)

I was helping a friend look for a song for a wedding recessional. I had this song in mind, so I googled it and this video was on youtube. The song is great, but I thought the video was very sweet. Kids are just so entertaining!