Hubby's Home!

I was laying in bed watching tv when the key turned in the lock around 9:30. The dog and I both sat up and went towards the door at the same time. It's always great when Gregg comes home after being away. Obviously because I miss him, but also because it's like a little reunion between us. He put down his suitcase and laptop case in the hallway and wrapped me up in a big hug. I held him tightly and didn't want to let go. I let him unpack and change for bed, and then he came around to my side of the bed and held me. Did I mention how great reunions are?

He joked that he should go away more often since the house was totally clean and all the laundry was folded and neatly put away. Yeah, ha ha. But seriously I was on a cleaning mission yesterday. Scrubbing, swiffering, windexing, I did it all. By late afternoon, you couldn't tell that we had a dog. Except for the fact that there are still dog toys lying around- um, and the actual dog herself, but you get the idea. She was lying on her "bed" (a couple of blankets on the floor in the bedroom) with her paw over her nose at one point. I think she was overwhelmed with the smell of clean. Or she was resigned to the fact that Gregg was never coming home again and she was now stuck alone with the crazy cleaning nazi.

I feel so good that my house is clean, for the next few days anyway. It was such a workout too. I was exhausted at the end of the day, and it carried over to this morning. I didn't wake up until after Gregg was out of the shower. Eventually I got out of bed, let the dog out and made him breakfast, then saw him off and got in the shower myself so I could leave on time for Sunday school class, which I volunteered to lead this week. After service, I sold cd's of this and past Sundays' sermons at the table in the back to help Gregg out. We were, as usual, the last ones to leave church and we were both tired and hun-gry.

On my way home, I started to feel weary, thinking about all the stuff coming up in the next few weeks and that all we do lately is run around here, there and everywhere with little quality time for each other. We seriously need a vacation. I switched the radio to a Christian station that rarely comes in, though, and to my surprise they were playing really good worship music. It made me realize my soul was thirsty. I sang along to familiar songs, like "Jesus Be The Center" and "Meet With You" and immediately felt better. Like everything came into focus and Jesus was the answer again. By the time I got home, I felt refreshed and ready to enjoy this beautiful day. Before. another. hectic. week. starts.

Home Alone

...for the second night in a row. I'm feeling lonely here without Gregg. I just got off the phone with him and started to tear up. He said he won't be home until 8 or 9 tomorrow night. And then he'll have to get to bed pretty soon after that to be up again early in the morning for church. I know at least I'll have Sunday afternoon and evening to spend with him, but it seems like lately we hardly see each other. He said that the conference has been really good so far and he's learning a lot that he can take back with him. Two of his top volunteers are on the trip with him and they've been "bonding". So all good stuff. I can't help but feel selfish though. I just want my husband back!

Thankfully, I haven't been without things to do. The dog definitely requires some maintenance... and some cleaning up after. Today I came home from work and she had chewed the remote control for the stereo to bits along with an entire new roll of toilet paper. It was like some psycho confetti strewn about the living room and hallway. I was beyond livid. This is the second remote she's destroyed in one week too. One freaking week. This is EXACTLY why I did not want to get a dog.

I also worked on my blog and caught up on a few of my favorite Nestie blogs for a while last night and then the Internet crapped out on me. It still wasn't working when I tried to get on tonight, but I had Gregg talk me through how to fix it. That's the beauty of having a techie husband. I plan on getting the house cleaned tomorrow, since I'll have the entire day, and memorizing the scripture we need to for Sunday school. For now, I'm going to relax and kick back with some popcorn and The King of Queens.

Count Your Blessings

Today I find myself counting little, but special blessings. Last night was our small group, and Gregg originally wasn't going to make it because they switched worship rehearsal nights from Thursday to Tuesday this week. As I was simultaneously whipping up brownies (since it was our turn to bring snack) and trying to keep an eye on the boiling pot atop the stove, I asked him when he had to leave. He said that he didn't have to go to rehearsal anymore, so he could come with me, yay! I was so glad- I really didn't want to be there without him.

We went and had a great discussion on the assigned chapter in Sacred Marriage on respecting your spouse, and good conversations afterwards. A new couple, who just moved here from Ohio, came to the group for the first time. After prayer requests, I served up the brownies and the leftover bread pudding I had made the day before. Everyone raved about how good the pudding was, and I actually didn't think it turned out that great. Cathy asked to keep some of it and we ended up just leaving the whole pan with them, saying we'd get it next week.

Tomorrow night Gregg is leaving straight from work for a Tech Expo in Clearwater. He'll be home sometime late on Saturday, which means I'll have the house to myself for two nights. I never like it when he goes away, but I am looking forward to having time to get a thorough cleaning of our house done (okay, I sound like a total dork, but it really needs it) b/c I don't do house chores on Saturdays anymore since that's our only mutual day off together. Obviously I'll do other things besides clean, like take time for me.

I love my husband and will miss him, but when my whole life revolves around another person and always thinking: "what am I going to make for dinner and does he have clean underwear/jeans/shirts for tomorrow?" it'll be nice for a few days just do things for myself, watch what I want to, paint my toenails, who knows? The sky is the limit (ha ha). I know by the time I crawl into bed tomorrow night, I'll be missing him like crazy. I hate going to bed without him. :( That's the worst part. It makes me that much more grateful he was able to attend small group because we won't be together these next three days.

Weekend Highlights

Happy Birthday to my beloved hubby, who turns 30 today! I love you.

This past weekend turned out pretty nice. Friday night we went to Jonathan and Michelle's as planned. The boys "bonded" over the grill, while Michelle & I talked in the kitchen and she showed me all the work they did to the house. After dinner they showed us how to play a new card game and we played a few rounds, each one becoming increasingly aggressive as we got good at it. Then we just sat around having coffee & brownies and talked until after 11 o'clock!

I asked J & M how they were doing after the miscarriage, and they said they were bummed about it but were confident God was in control and still very much want a family. Jonathan explained it was harder in some respects because he's in a high-profile position at church as the young adults pastor. After learning how common miscarriages actually are though, they felt a little better.

Jonathan gave us some ideas for managing our finances better, and suggested we open an ING account. In the car ride home, Gregg told me he really wanted to do that and I said, "Um yeah, I suggested that to you about a year and a half ago, and you completely poo-pooed the idea!" He tried to say that I didn't have all the facts originally, but I said that I told him everything Jonathan did. "Well he said it differently", he said. Whatever.

Saturday we slept in until 9, which was lovely, then didn't do much for the rest of the day except go to Sam's Club. Yesterday after church, we had pizza and veggies at my adult Sunday school class leader's house. I'm taking the Crown Financial study series and it is suggested that we have at least two get-togethers outside the class. It was a great time and we both got to know some more people from our church. Afterwards, Gregg left to go back to church to set up for a concert, and I headed to WalMart to buy some more ingredients for the dessert I'm making for his b-day. While I was there I picked up a mushy card, too.

The lasagna only took me an hour and a half to make, and I had it out of the oven and was cleaning the last of the dishes when Gregg arrived home. I finished cleaning up the kitchen while he told me about his night. We put the lasagna in the fridge for the next day and then went to bed. It felt so good to be off my feet, finally. Tonight we don't have much planned, just a quiet evening at home. I can't believe one of us is actually 30! I remember when I used to think that was sooo old.