All Kinds of Crazy: February 2011

Sunday, February 27, 2011

So Why Am I Complaining?

We have been very blessed in our marriage. We have two beautiful and healthy little girls. We have a warm home that will one day be paid off and then rented out. We have one semi-functioning vehicle. We have wonderful callings, wonderful family and we are in good health. We love each other and that's more than some people can say. We have the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we live it and love it. So why, with all of these wonderful blessings am I complaining?!

After almost a year of unemployment, Sam has a job-another blessing. He works third shift, goes to school full time and magnifies his calling of Branch President. He never gets a full nights rest, so when date night rolls around he falls asleep in the car on the way to our destination or on the couch during a movie. I don't blame him, but it does cause marital discussions and romance to go down the tube. I can't blame him, I can't blame his calling and I can't blame school and we need the job. So why am I complaining when we have been blessed with a much needed job in a time when jobs are scarce?

It hit me that I borrowed money for four years of college, only to work one year towards paying it off. I am grateful for my degree and I feel rather accomplished when I sit around talking with other stay at home mothers because I have that degree and that's not one of my life's questions anymore. How selfish is that? Sorry, but that's the nasty proud side of Laura. I have something to fall back on and I am glad. So why am I complaining?

I get to stay home with my children everyday, and clean the house all by myself everyday and go to bed all by myself everyday. So why am I complaining?

This is me on a bad day. Sorry, world.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

You Know You're Married When...

Sam and I have come to realize that we have joined that not to elite group of tired mommys and daddys. A few short years ago we would enjoy at least one night a week out as a couple. We might flit about going on a shopping spree at Hobby Lobby, followed by ice cream/dinner and a movie, probably a late night one even. Then come home and enjoy the other benefits of being a married couple, not caring about interruptions or the hour. We would sleep in the following morning and spend the post date day lazing about and enjoying our free time. Now, we might be able to get away for a date night once a month and we still have a child in tow. Instead of trying to figure out how much money we could spend in one night, we now try to figure out how to spend the least amount of money and still enjoy a date night. And romantic rondevues are cut short because of crying babies or because we are just worn out from a day of work, kids and other.

Here is an illustration for you: Sam and I planned to have Ruby spend the night with my mother and we would use our Comets hockey tickets from Mindy to have a date night. Dinner and a game and then Sam would come home and sleep before he had to leave for National Guard the next morning. Sam had already been awake for over twenty-four hours with work and school, but we had planned the first date in a while and were going to follow through. Sam came home from school and got dressed, while I got ready as well. He put on his comets jersey while I fed the baby. Then we found out the game didn't start until 8pm. So we thought we would just leave at half time. Then we said "ok, let's just eat at the game and leave at half time". Five minutes later changed our minds and decided to catch an early movie and fast food. Once in the car, we shortened our date to just a movie in Auburn. Once in Auburn we decided that all we really wanted was supper. Sam looked at me and suggested "Steak'n Shake"...drive thru and a redbox movie. So that's what we did. We grabbed drive thru and returned to Kendallville with our redbox movie. Sam fell asleep within twenty minutes of the movie and the baby and I joined him once the movie was over at nine pm. We are definately an old tired married couple.