I found this in blogworld and thought it was post worthy.

20 Ways to Make a Good Marriage Great
by Richard W. Linford
1. Night and Morning Prayer … to say thanks, to ask for help in your marriage and family, to worship together.
2. A Weekly Planning Meeting … to discuss the calendar, talk over needs and problems, decide priorities and next steps.
3. A Daily Phone Call or Personal Conversation … to say “I love you,” to touch base, to discuss the day, to show you care.
4. A Weekly Date … to a favorite park, a concert, the library, the gym; or staying home for a candlelight dinner, a game, or a mutual hobby.
5. Patience Regardless … of missed meals, tardiness, forgotten favors, a thoughtless remark, impatience.
6. Daily Service … helping with house or yard work, mending a piece of clothing, taking a turn with the sick baby, fixing a favorite meal. (Write it down. Do it!)
7. A Budget … to tie down income and expenses, help set financial goals, and give you control over your finances.
8. Listening … not only to what is said, but also to what is meant.
9. Regular Attendance … at church—and where possible—the temple.
10. Daily Scripture Reading … to learn the gospel, to receive inspiration for yourself and your marriage, to become more like Jesus.
11. Working Together … caring for a garden, painting a bedroom, washing the car, scrubbing floors, building a piece of furniture, writing a poem together, team teaching a class.
12. Forgiving Each Other … always learning from each other, trying a different way, being the first to make peace.
13. Courtesies … like saying please and thank you, not interrupting or belittling, not doing all the talking, continuing the niceties of courtship.
14. Soft and Kind Words … of tenderness, compassion, empathy.
15. Learning Together by … reading to each other, discussing ideas, taking a class.
16. Respecting … opinions, ideas, privacy.
17. Supporting Your Spouse’s … church service and righteous goals.
18. Caring for Your Spouse’s Family by … enjoying their company, praying for them, serving them, overlooking differences.
19. Occasional Gifts … such as a note, a needed item—but mostly gifts of time and self.
20. Loving with All Your Heart. “Thou shalt love thy wife [thy husband] with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her [him] and none else.” (D&C 42:22.)

Beauty- peace in the midst of the storm

I worked today, instead of yesterday. Kids were out of school for MLK day yesterday.

We saw some really sick people today. One struck me especially. She has cancer and had a stem cell transplant a few months ago. Her look was strikingly similar to my late sister-in-law Jane's in her last months. Very sick, very frail. Shaking, pale, bald and weak.

I talk a lot to my patients. Partly because I try to put them at ease and decrease white coat syndrome. And partly because I like to talk a lot :). As I was talking to her in depth about her condition and recent treatment. She said something that shook me.

I was telling her that Jane had told me that going through her stem cell transplant was like "walking through the valley of the shadow of death". She agreed, and said "I am so glad I also have the Peace that passes all understanding."

Brought me to tears.

Peace. It is a thing of beauty.

Beauty- a few

-watching a group of high school girls knit headbands to sell. Their proceeds are to support an program to end human traficking in India.

- I love a list with lots of check marks, a true thing of beauty for this task oriented girl

- a house full of giggling 10-11 year old girls, Ann's slumber party is tonight with 8 girls here for the night.

- my baby girl is growing up and maturing. Seeing her with friends, interacting and having fun is a thing of beauty.

- a 14 year old girl growing up, mature beyond her years. Making good choices and dealing with some hard stuff. Watching God mold her is a thing of beauty.

- Joe's interview to lead a trip to Haiti. Seeing how God has brought him out of the pit to leading a mission trip is a thing of beauty.

- watching God lay out a plan for my possible future employment before I even knew it is a thing of beauty.

- seeing God give physical confirmation to a reluctant adoptive parent is a true thing of beauty and their Christmas miracle. http://http//heartheldhigh.blogspot.com/2011/01/our-christmas-miracle.html

Beauty a change of plans

I love how God knows so much more than we do. 

With Joe's job so unstable, a full time job for me may be in order. 

I really have been hesitant to go back to working full time.  I love being a wife and mom and homemaker so much.  I have never been able to wrap my head around doing both.

God had the perfect plan for me. 
Waiting and trusting.

There is beauty in waiting.

Beauty- spoons

We played a family game of spoons tonight. So fun, so many laughs, a thing of beauty!

Beauty-I am way behind

So far behind, that I am no longer put day numbers on them!

Yesterday was Annie's birthday.  She turned 11.  My baby girl is 11.  It seems like just yesterday she was born.  I wouldn't trade the 3 kids in 3 years time, but I am not sure I would go back.  I like where we are.

One of my favorite parts of the kids birthdays is talking about the day they were born and all that was going on in our lives.

Annie had an exciting start to life.  My water broke right before Joe was to start a basketball game against CMA.  A neighbor had to go to the gym and tell him to come home.  As I was cleaning the kitchen up before leaving I looked out the kitchen window and could see Joe running home! We lived right behind Triton High School at the time.
We headed to the hospital after dropping off the kids at my brother's where my mom was living.  She was helping my brother after his wife had died of breast cancer at just 33 the past year. 
Once at the hospital we got a message from the athletic director saying that if we could have the baby before the end of the game, they would announce it! Ha I would do my best, I thought.  As my doctor sat in my room and watched the IU basketball game, we walked the halls while Joe talked on a cell phone with people about the game.  The nurses laughed at us, saying they had never seen anyone walk so fast before.  Stress I guess.
Annie was born at 11 pm, after the game was over!  And after a few scary minutes of her cord wrapped around her neck!  Our sweet little girl 8lbs. 14 oz. and only 19 1/2 inches long. She has always been our best sleeper and our most vocal child.  She says it like it is, and stands up for herself.  She has a passion for reading and for justice.


God has big plans for her!  and I can't wait to see where He leads her.

Beauty - a new morning

Haiti2010

As I lay in bed this morning, I am tired, poor sleep, sick husband, "woe is me"ing.  I stopped and prayed and thought over yesterday.  A self reflection act we learned last night at church.  I really fell short in many ways yesterday.
Thankful for a forgiving God and family, today is a new day.
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.

His mercies never come to an end.

They are new every morning, new every morning,

Great is Thy faithfulness, O Lord. Great is Thy faithfulness."



Lamentations 3:22-24 says "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."