When the dust settles

Happy Monday y'all. 

We are back from our trip to bring the grandchildren home. I have so much to share....things God has taught me _ reminded me of_ through watching my grandkids do life. I can't wait to document those moments here for them to cherish...but that's for another time.  

Today it has hit me as look around at my little nest...

 I see the evidence left behind of little souls at play.  Toys still scattered on the floor that didn't get picked up on our hectic morning of departure. I see evidence of a wedding in the works as I look at little projects in the corners of my house that means my  last daughter at home will be leaving me soon.

And we returned home to some not so fun life stuff ....like a wonky wi fi that wouldn't work and a broken hot water heater and waking up to a full blown sinus cold.   None of this stuff is major.   It just seems more disappointing...more of a let down.... in contrast to the week I just experienced.

And it got me thinking about life. My life.

That when the dust settles after the whirlwind of raising kids, planning weddings, long visits with grandkids.... when the disappointing and hard stuff happens..

I'm glad it's always this guy that is left by my side.

There is no one else on this planet that "gets me" like he does.

He is the person I'd rather be with more than anyone else.  

We get asked often what our "secret" is.

This quote that was on the back of our church bulletin this Sunday sums it up perfectly.

(Thanks Karen for finding stuff with substance to share with us each week on our bulletins!)

"When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now....when first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased."

C.S. Lewis

 Putting first things first.

Jesus, Nick and then my girls. 

That may sound selfish but there is truly nothing better we can give our kids than them seeing their momma and daddy love each other with a vibrant healthy relationship. Nick and I have always made sure we had time for each other...sometimes we had to fight for it when the girls were small and so physically demanding but we made it a priority in our marriage.  

  Time for each other is the fuel that keeps the passion burning.

Make the time for your man.

Clear your calendar if you have to. Drop a few activities.  Say no to friends.  Turn off the tv.

Turn off the computer.  Put down the phone.

 Trust me on this one girl.  It's worth it.

source

Before long the dust is gonna settle for you too and 

you really want to like the person you're standing next to.

                                                                                        

ps.  Gotta give props to our daughter, Elizabeth, for sharing her gifts with me and her daddy.  These pics were taken by her.  Against her professional photographer self, I took the disc before she could edit any of them. They are straight out the camera...except for a couple that I edited on my Ipad.   You can check out her photography blog  here.