Pride

Today I am proud.  Today I am a shameless braggart.  All thanks to God and my husband, Corey, I have a reason to beam with pride.  Today my hardworking hubby got a promotion.  Yes, that’s a big deal by itself, but there is a bit of back-story that makes it all the more sweet. Let me explain:

Late March of this year my husband got hurt at work, it has been a physical strain on him and mentally taxing for both of us.  He works construction, so naturally, he can’t keep lifting 200 pounds over his head on a daily basis, and so they stuck him in the office.  Starting out with mindless paperwork or filing, management quickly took notice of how hard he was working and began giving him bigger tasks holding more importance.  He then took it upon himself to start reconstructing the safety training material within the company.  Within a week or two, he had the safety coordinators asking him to make presentations for safety conferences and not only to continue his remodeling of the safety platform but to add new safety models as well.  We are getting to the part where the vice president, yeah that’s right, the vice president of the company took notice.  Creating a position for Corey, a promotion, acting as a communication facilitator between his company and the general contractors they work on site with.

Yeah… he’s awesome.  And that’s not all.

Also accomplished since March, working hard on a rigid, three times a week physical therapy sessions, often leaving him sore and using a cane.  He had countless (painful) spinal injections and trips to the hospital.  Constant check-ups with his orthopedic surgeon, not usually getting the most uplifting news about the current state of his back.  (Degenerative back disease, pinched nerves, holes within the spinal column, only to name a few, and there many more).  Then, that after all of that, he was an amazing doting husband and dad when he got home.  Giving us whatever remaining energy he had when he walked through the door.  We were even able to make trips to visit family, and I watched as my sweet husband “grin and bear it” so that everyone else wouldn’t worry about him and have a good time.

This man, my wonderful man, has more work ethic and more devotion to his family than anyone I have ever known.  I am so thankful and so proud. 

I love you sweetheart.

“With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God” –Mark 10:27

*And to our family and friends: Thank you so much for your continued encouragement and support.  I love you and appreciate you more than you'll ever know.

Family Romance

One of our first family photos. May 2010

I can count on my two hands the number of times Muffin has ever been watched by someone else.  It’s not that we don’t trust our family with her; it’s just that we enjoy her with us.  This is something that others around us see and struggle with.  How can we still be so madly in love with our child ever present?  How do we find time to enjoy each other and connect?  I think it really depends on the couple and what each individual’s idea of love is.

Let me tell you about a date we had:

We had a sunny Saturday together.  That perfect kind of sunny day, where the sun was warm and the breeze refreshing.  We decided to drive downtown and just stroll the cobblestone sidewalks and window shop.  We walked hand in hand, pointing out entertaining street art, and people watching.  He bought me a set of knitting needles I had been pining over in the yarn specialty shop.  I snuggled his arm as we walked together and chose a quiet place for an early dinner.  We settled on a restaurant with an outside view so we could enjoy the bright glow of sunset.  Helping each other sample our tasty dishes, we held hands, and stole little kisses here and there.  When the meal was over, we packed up our leftovers and headed home, chatting the whole way.

Romance can happen anytime.

            Now, is that any less romantic if I told you we had our toddler happily worn on my chest the whole time?  And to answer: no.

            We believe that as parents we are appointed examples for our children.  Functioning as husband and wife in front of your kids is just as important as teaching them manners.  Home is where your babies learn love and how to love.  We want to show our kids throughout their lives and throughout our marriage, what a healthy happy relationship looks like.  If they aren’t taught how to love, respect, and care at home, where will they learn it?  Who will be their examples?

Silly love is still sincere love.

            Our romance as a family is just as important as our romance as married couple.  We also enjoy our time together, just the two of us, after Muffin has gone to sleep.  We can watch awful television, have our adult conversations, and share our sometimes-scandalous sense of humor.  I think that’s it’s important to be able to find passion for each other whether alone as a pair or accompanied by a tot running around.

            Our decision to include our daughter in all we do was an effortless one.  It’s an easy fit with our love.  I’ve never felt closer to my husband, and we still snuggle, kiss, and flirt like teenagers.  Love is a language.  Learning how and when to communicate with each other has been our key to happiness and success.  Both as a family and as a couple.

           

The Simmons Family

Guilty as Charged

I’m a responsible, upstanding member of society.  I love being a wife and mom and my hobbies include sewing, knitting, singing, and journaling.  But I have secret behavior and some bad habits.  One of my goals with my writing this blog is to be as honest and real as possible.  And so, in trying to keep with that, here are ways that I am undeniably human:

I watch awful television.  I love the shows Sex and the City, Jersey Shore, and Teen Mom.  I know this is filth, I only watch it once Muffin is asleep for the night because I don’t think I could handle the guilt of it on in the background while we play together.  There is no way I’d allow her to watch it or emulate ANY of the people/characters within these programs.  Not to mention that my sweet husband was the only man at the midnight showing of the Sex and the City movie.  He definitely deserves a medal for putting up with my choices in entertainment.

I have a swear word switch.  I’m not proud of this at all and it is something I am working on.  It’s as if as soon as Muffin is napping or asleep the “Mommy filter” shuts off.  I don’t curse non-stop by any means, or even everyday, but I definitely let a few fly every now and then.  This is a work in progress.

I have a temper.  I blame a lot of it on being a red head, when really I have no idea if that’s true, it’s more or less just my lame excuse.  However, I have gotten so much better at this; I used to get steamed at the smallest details or rude people.  (Since Muffin’s arrival I have to pat myself on the back that I have really toned it down in this department).  I don’t have an anger problem, when I get angry there is always a just cause.  I don’t read between the lines and I don’t over analyze what is said to me.  If you want to offend me you pretty much have to just come out and say it, I’m like a guy in this respect.  This goes the other way as well, when I say things; it comes out just the way I mean it, no hidden message or meaning.  People who try to decipher a deeper meaning or infer things from what I say are wasting time.  Ask anyone who knows me, if I have something to tell you I will most certainly let you know and if you’re curious, just ask, I’m happy to clarify.  (Yet another issue I have, but it too is now a lot better).  My motto at this stage of my life has been: If you give someone enough rope, they will hang themselves.  And it’s often proven true and really helped me better manage my patience in dealing with others. (As well as lots of prayer!  Well, tons of prayer!)

I’m a late night snacker.  I have recently switched to the 100-calorie snack packs, but it’s still an awful habit to eat before bed.  My goal is to eventually kick this habit completely (all of these habits really, well, except for maybe the television).  I’ve gotten a little better at this, but I still have nights that I just need a snack to fall asleep.  Gosh, that just sounds so awful, but it’s true.

There it is.  These are the biggies.  I’m ashamed of all of them and I’m hesitant to put this out there but it’s just because it’s hard to let others see your imperfections.  But I’ve been blessed to have people in my life who love and accept me and are patient with all of these, as well as work with me to better myself.  No one wants to point out flaws within themselves; it’s only natural to stay guarded, and to protect yourself from hurt.  But I’m hoping that if I can open up and show my weaknesses to others that they will open their hearts with kindness towards everyone’s human flaws.  And if I can be honest with myself about who I am, it will be an invitation for God to help me humbly better myself.