You only get out of marriage what you put into it.

Eldon & Ginny Phillips

Married: October 30, 1946

Eldon and Ginny went to high school together. His first move: he stole her shoes during a play rehearsal! "It took him eight years to convince me to marry him," laughs Ginny.

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A young entrepreneur starts with an idea for a unique, new product. He carefully lays plans for a start-up business, calculating revenues and expenses. He meets with consultants, accountants, and attorneys. He works hard to sell the concept to banks and investors to raise capital. In time he leases space, purchases equipment, and hires employees. Finally he is ready to begin. He works hard, pouring himself into the business, determined to make it succeed. And it thrives.

But does he now merely sit back, relax and enjoy the fruit of his labor? No! He works harder than ever, while conjuring up ideas for improving efficiency, bettering customer relations, bolstering profits.

If a marriage is to last a lifetime, it requires the same level of devotion and energy. Both partners must give 100 percent. Each must be available to the other when needed, fully present, ready to listen, to talk, to act. Both spouses must pur their heart and soul into this enterprise, making whatever sacrifice necessary to ensure success.

Yet what an investment! The payoff is rich, healthy, loving relationship that lasts. And everyone involved reaps countless rewards.

Sound good? Devote time and energy to your marriage.

Whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

2 Corinthians 9:6

We did it!!

Well, we did it. Brendan and I survived 4 days, 3 nights without dad. It surprisenly wasn't as hard as I feared it was going to be. I think we just bonded even more, which was so great! We stayed busy and had lots of fun. So happy the weather is cooler now, although it makes Brendan sad because some days its too cold for me to fill his water table up. He is such a water baby! Saturday we went to Randall's (Quinton's dad) house and he saw the pool and just flipped out and kept trying to get to it until finally Q got in the water with him. It had been raining all day so we didn't think it would stop and even if it did that the water would be warm enough so I didn't bring swimming gear, but luckily I had a swim diaper so put him in it and Q got in in just his boxers!! Oh that kid is spoiled!

Met with the baker yesterday and designed his cake, it's going to be so incredibily awesome!! Got the invites out this morning too, so those should start hitting some people tomorrow. I can't believe my little man is turning one! Get a little teary eyed just thinking of how fast time flys. And with that I'm going to start sharing (hopefully, daily) some readings from this book I got when Q and I got married. "It's called Married for Life: Inspirations from those married 50 years or more." I think since having Brendan my focus is more on him than on our marriage and feel it's the same for Q. It's something we've talked about and know we need lunches, nights some little time away for ourselves. So I started reading this book and it's very inspirational. Will put in the following post. Hope you enjoy the readings as much as I have.

The Work Out Dilemma

So I need to get back to working out. I've done it EXTREMELY sporadically for a while now. I'm so mad at myself because I was on the fast track to losing weight right after Brendan was born, but then let it all go. Now my poor dear husband has to listen to me cry, complain every day about not liking the way I am. I know what I have to do, it's just finding the time. I've thought about it long and hard and the only time for me to do it is 5:30 in the morning, but it's so hard for me to get up that early to go run. I hate running in the dark and with daylight savings time around the corner, it's not going to be getting any lighter outside! I could go after Quinton gets home from work, but that's the only time we have to spend as a family on the week days. He comes home I make dinner and we play with Brendan. I could go once Brendan goes down, but then that's the only time Q and I have for ourselves to talk and just relax. Plus, I just think down the line Brendan is going to be involved in activities that are going to be after school or in the evenings and need prepare myself for that so it's best if I just start now getting up and going at 5:30. I don't believe in gym memberships anymore. I've had them numerous times but never get my money's worth because I hate running on a treadmill or elliptical, I get bored. I'll do the classes, but usually the classes I want to do are at odd times. I like to run outside and get the fresh air and see the nature. Of course, now that I've come to this decision, I will have to put it off for another week because my husband is leaving to go out of town Sunday-Wednesday. I don't have to put it off the whole week, but just bummed that I won't have those days to at least attempted to get my butt out of bed. Speaking of him going out of town, PRAY for us!! Us being me and Brendan. This is the longest we will have gone without dad. And next month he will be gone for FIVE days!!!

So I'm hopeful to stay encouraged and motivated and am completely freaked out and nervous about being a "single parent"!!

Now that I'm done complaining...thanks for listening ;)