So little time to blog this past week. Guido's been ever present on the computer trying to finish his papers for the semester. I get the lovely privilege of reading them and correcting grammar. He was so proud of finishing them and not procrastinating that when he handed his 10 page paper to me, I noticed immediately that it was not double spaced. This was a problem because he could only turn in a 10 page report, no more no less. He had to cut his beloved paper by a third and reformat. He was not a happy camper! So while he's been busy typing away we had a very enjoyable week.
Tuesday was our monthly MOPS meeting. It's always fun to get together with these women. Our topic this month was on "communication". We watched a video regarding this book called "Cracking the Communication Code: The Secret to Speaking Your Mate's Language" by Emerson Eggerichs. He says that often a crazy cycle can happen between husbands and wives that starts like this: "WITHOUT LOVE, SHE REACTS WITHOUT RESPECT. WITHOUT RESPECT, HE REACTS WITHOUT LOVE." "Scripture offers the answer to the Crazy Cycle in Ephesians 5:33-"Each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband" (NIV). This verse is the summary statement of the greatest treatise on marriage in the New Testament: Ephesians 5:22-33. In verse 33 Paul pens God's commands (not suggestions) that husbands must love their wives and that wives must respect their husbands. What is more, the love and respect are to be unconditional." It's interesting to me that scripture doesn't point out that we must love our husbands too. The author's thought is that God made women to be lovers naturally, our struggle is respecting our mate. Men have a weakness in loving than respecting. I'm interested in reading his book and learning more.
Wednesday is BSF day (Bible Study Fellowship). This has been the best Bible study group I've ever been involved with. It is challenging and makes me spend time really reading and trying to comprehend the meaning of scripture. It's a very disciplined group. If you haven't done your homework you don't participate in group discussions. Likewise, if you're running late, you have to sit and wait for the general assembly and miss out on the discussion group. They have a program for children 2-5, that is absolutely awesome. I volunteered this week to help out in the 4 year old class and was just amazed at what the kids are learning too. While Xavier and I go to BSF, Veronica and Daddy stay home and have time together. Guido has off from work and school on Wednesdays so it makes it nice that I can get away and have some Christian fellowship time.
Thursday was a trip to the Library for story time. Nothing too sensational happened, but a good time was had by all. We have a special bond with our Librarians. They know us by name and we have such a fun time. I feel like we're getting to know our community this way and it's such an outreach to meet new people. I think mothers have an easier time talking with other mothers. I consider myself a pretty shy person when I'm on my own, so talking to new people is a stretch in the uncomfortable zone for me, but I push pass my fears and do it anyway.
Saturday was a special baby shower for my MOPS girlfriend, Jennifer. The entire family was invited and so with kids and husbands involved it was a really good time. Guido got to meet most of my close MOP friends and even had a chance to chat with their husbands and get to know them better. There were 13 kids of varying ages that got along together well. It helped that there was a large yard with a trampoline, sand box and swing set. I don't think Xavier and Veronica wanted to go home. My friend Miranda recently had a baby. I was holding the baby and trying to gage how welcoming Xavier was to the idea of a new baby. When I showed him Jacob, he said, "Put him down, Mommy! Put him down, now!". I guess he's not so welcoming.
Sunday was church! I love our church and our congregation. I feel so at home there. I was in charge of teaching Sunday School to the Elementary age. I had such a great time teaching the lesson and I think the kids had a good time too. After church we ate lunch with our pastor and his wife and two other clergy families. We don't often eat out so it was a treat. The conversation was good and we laughed a lot. Laughter with friends is so sweet. I'm glad we have them not just as leaders but as friends also.
Well, that was our week in review. Busy, but fun. Hope your week was just as good as ours!
2 comments:
I read a book once (which I can't currently find otherwise I would cite it)about marriage and in it the author constantly referenced Dr. Eggerichs book Love & Respect. So it piqued my interested and I went and got it. The sub-title is "the love she most desires/ the respect he desperately needs"...it has some really good stuff in it. In fact, your reference to it caused me to pull it of the shelf, I could probably use a refresher as it has been a while and I don't currently recall if I even finished reading it. I'll eventually get to it since I am currently reading 4 different books as it is and have 3 more lined up! I can read through the stories so quickly, but then I feel as if I should be devoting my mind and time to something that will grow me...after a while I loose interest in them though. Right now I have Facing Your Giants, Pipsology, The Proper Care and Feeding of a Marriage, and Darcy and Elizabeth. Can you tell which of the above list is drawing my attention - Yup good ol' Darcy and Elizabeth! It is like I am a total ADD kid with my reading right now and making no progress!
Last summer we did the Love and Respect DVD series that coincides with the Book. It was the most attended Sunday School class ever. It revolutionized the way Glen and I communicate with one another. It really made sense. Now when things start to stir up between us, one of us says we are hearing "blue" or "pink". We both have grown tremendously from learning each others deepest needs.
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