Relationships That Last Forever!

This Chris August Song "Restore" got me to thinking about my own marriage. Wow, we have had a great run! 33 years and counting. We will celebrating our 34th year of meeting this month on the 14th. We are in some ways very much the same people. Mike has a quirky sense of humor. I love to play and steal his french fries.

What is different? We love each other so much more! And know each other a whole lot better. I know that we can still surprise each other, but it's rare. My smile just turn up in one corner. My husband is really full of surprises. His wit, humor and the way his mind works never cease to amaze and amuse me.

I'm sure I am in many ways still a bit of an enigma to him. But he has a nickname for me from the Little Rascals and I know if I do something zany, he will simply smile, shrug his shoulders and say, that's ... (no I am not telling you which character I am)! lol

We are a team and a strong one. With God at the helm and my husband at point guard. I run interference and try to balance the grocery budget, without dropping too many cans. God calls the plays and we try to run with the ball without fumbling too much. The fact that I can write in sports analogies is testimony to our 33 year long marriage and the many football games we have watched together. If it didn't make any sense, that's the part where I wasn't paying attention.

I love my husband, Mike. He doesn't bug me, nor is he disrespectful or derogatory or rude. I have nothing bad to say about him and a lot of good to say. He is caring, a wonderful partner in laughter and fun making and love and all that sort of stuff. He's not a bad cook, he can do laundry, clean floors and bring home the bacon. He loves God, small children, dogs...gee I don't know what more you could want in a guy!

He is not critical of me. There I guess that's enough!

I try always to respect him. That means a lot to men and other living things. I honor him with my words and the way I conduct myself. I don't flirt with other guys. Well, I try not to. And I love the things that he loves. I love our daughter always. I love the way he makes me feel about myself.

How do you build a relationship like this? You should be lovers. And, I know you should be friends. Always live with lots of love. Faith. Be good to each other and unselfish. And it doesn't hurt to recite I Corinthians 13: The Love Chapter of the Bible to each other at your wedding, verse by verse, back and forth and try to live the words as you have spoken them. With God's help, of course.

Also, listen to this video my Chris August, it'll help put you in the right frame of mind. Have a lovely day! Lib

Not Time To Say Good-Bye!

Thanks to the Lord and my guardian angels working overtime on Friday, when my boot hit the strip of ice under the snow and my feet shot out from under me, the angels cushioned the blow the back of my head took when it hit the pavement of the parking lot, or it would have been lights out for me!

I'm not trying to be dramatic. You hear so often of people checking out just this way. Or should I be more direct? Dying. As it was, my brain bounced forward in my skull and hit the front of its protective covering, causing a Subdural hematoma, or brain bleed. These can be fatal too, but once again, the Lord saw fit to keep me on this earth and not call me home. For which I praise him LOUDLY! THANK YOU LORD!

Many people having made peace with their maker, are ready to go home to be with Him. I know I'm at peace, but I am NOT READY. I know there is much more to my life. Much more to be lived. Much more to be said and done and loved and given. Did my life flash before my eyes when I flew through the air? No, there wasn't time. All I remember is my feet leaving the earth, thinking OH NO! and my head hitting the pavement. I did not lose consciousness, so I remember every bit of pain and discomfort and thoughts of getting up again and how I might manage it.

Finally, I rolled over and got on one knee and got up. It wasn't so bad, I thought. I felt a bit woozy, but I was there. So I crept to my car which I had fallen right in front of...so close, but yet so far. I sat down and contemplated my options. I must have been a bit confused, because I could not think what to do. I sat there with the door open and finally asked some sweet people nearby to help me. They went into a store and got me help, and security from the lot called an ambulance and soon I was in the hospital I go to getting a cat scan or MRI, finding out I had a bleed, a hematoma in the front of my skull and would be admitted for observation. The neurosurgeon who read the scan didn't think it was bad, nor did he think it would require surgery. I was scared. But my husband Mike was there and I remember thanking God a lot and saying or thinking "Whew!" a lot.

Neurologically I looked good they said! No finer compliment have I ever been paid! I was happy to go to my room and attempt to sleep, semi-sitting up to keep my head in the correct position and await another scan in the a.m. I slept pretty well. I didn't dream. I am so thankful for God's hand on me through it all for attentive nurses and great doctors and the people that helped me when it happened. I know what can happen when these things aren't treated and I thanked God for all the love in my life.

The next morning the scan showed the blood was dissipating and I would be going home later that day! Hurray! What wonderful words. The neurosurgeon said he would see me in a week for another scan and then we could say goodbye! Also good words.

I am thankful tonight for all this incident has taught me about my life and the love that is in it and the care of good people. Also the warning it is for anyone sustaining a head injury...PLEASE get help at once. Call 911. Even if you pulled yourself off the ice. It could be very serious and is often. Get to the hospital by ambulance, let those trained to do so care for your head, your brain, you.

And stay safe.

Walk safe.

Stay upright.

Don't fall.

But if you do, get help immediately.

Love you all! Libby

Ongoing History of The Blues by Dave Reynolds: Jack Dupree!

http://libbyslifeandtimes.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/weve-moved-to-the-woods/

A Moving Experience ;)

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We are moving our household again. I say again, because it seems like we have been moving a lot lately. When Mike and I were first married we lived in the same house for 17 years in Northeast Minneapolis. It was an old house and we loved it. We loved living Northeast too. My daughter Abby grew up there. It was fun and carefree: a nice neighborhood in Minneapolis where you knew your neighbors and watched out for each other. But one day, after a dear next door neighbor died and her son finally sold her house. We got some new neighbors who weren't of the same persuasion as the rest.

I don't recommend moving because of difficulties with neighbors, but we had a circumstance where a crime, assault was committed against one of us and the neighbor was freed by the courts. It made our position as homeowners untenable and we fled to an nearby suburb called St. Louis Park. We loved it there, especially Abby who made many friends. We kept our good memories of life in Northeast Minneapolis. I still remember the house and the wonderful times we had, as I do all of the places we have lived since.

Life takes its twists and turns and we move on. We leave wonderful people behind sometimes and try to keep our relationships going. This time, we are moving back to a great apartment complex we have lived in before. It is under new management and is remodeled with new appliances, carpeting, and a 24/7 workout center! It is fresh and new and we will be in a different building. Yet, in many ways it feels like coming home, which is nice.

We hope we won't move again. We don't plan on it. We are travelling pretty light through life and are happy to do so. We have a nice place to hang our hat. We are happy to be together, to be well and to have such a great group of friends and family to share our life and faith with.

Mike and I are not nomadic creatures. We are homebodies. We like to hang out. We like to visit and chat and put up our feet at the end of the day, compare notes and just be. We like to run errands together on the weekend and entertain family and friends when we can. We like to have our little keepsakes around, Mike his collectibles and music, me my art and photographs. We treasure our lives, our Lord and this gift of life wherever it takes us. If it takes us home to our place we are very blessed. If it takes us home to be with Him, our Lord and Savior as it will one day in the Ultimate Move, that is also a blessing and extraordinary ~ anticipated with joy and not feared.

But I don't rush that day...I savor each moment of my precious life. I am young, not old, I feel I have many years ahead of me and so does Mike who is only one year older than I. Many years to serve and love and give to others from wherever we live and work. I know that wherever I move to that my Lord has gone before me and prepared a place for me. That He will be there with me and will protect and guide me.

I didn't mean for this blog to meander, but its so nice to reflect about life. When you go about your turns and twists you do not go alone! Love to all....and if anyone would like to help...the move is next weekend~ lol!

Valentine's Day 2013

In our house we always called in Valentiney's day ~ the nickname my daughter Abby gave it! She was tiny and it made more sense to her that way. We were all each other's Valentines back then, of course Daddy was the epicenter of our greatest attention. He, the sweetest, the handsomest, the charming prince of the house hold was the desired Valentine of both of our affections! :)

We decorated the house with heart shaped candle holders with red candles inside and got flowers and cards and chocolates and gave family hugs. It was mostly like many other days. Our home was always filled with love and family hugs, if not flowers and candles, certainly the chocolates!

Now our daughter is grown and on a path of love all her own. She still loves us, and in a very special way her daddy, who she tries to run and jump into his arms though she is nearly his size!  They are adorable together and jealousy had never tugged at my heart only smiles at the corner of my mouth for the joy they bring me in the pure delight they share in each other's company.

For there is pleny of love to go around in our household and now that Abby is grown and on her own, the nest does not feel empty, though we miss her, but fuller somehow with a rich type of love that is just my hansome guy and I. A love that has weathered many storms, financial, health challenges, illness, sorrow and great joys. The ups and downs of almost 34 years of a marriage filled with laughter, friendship and intimacy that comes from letting your souls touch and your spirits soar to God in prayer.

This Valentine's Day we are moving to a new place. Starting a new chapter in our lives. One with more properity we hope, gentler trials and even more togetherness. Friendship in love is a wonderful thing, so is faith and we treasure them both. We are thankful this Valentiney's day for our many memories, for the love-filled present and the hope-filled future becuase of the mercy and love of our God.

So mark the day and remember this quote:

“Happy Valentines Day to those who have found love, in whatever shape or form, and to those who are still hunting, don’t give up. If you feel bad, send yourself a card. You must be worth it...”

― Jeanette Winterson ~ and I'm very sure you are! Much love, Libby and Mike

5x7 Folded Card

Hugs Kisses Wishes Valentine's Card

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View the entire collection of cards.