Naming my husband
I feel like I need a name for my husband on my blog. I love reading the Pioneer Woman’s blog and she named her husband the Malboro Man. Now, I know that won’t fit. Another friend of my just re-named her husband (just another man’s name) and I thought about that, but I decided that wasn’t quite what I wanted.
So, I’ve thought and thought - what could I name him - I know most of you are thinking that I have too much thinking time on my hands. Maybe so. When we were first married I called him “hunka hunka burning love”. I could call him that, but I just don’t think that is it. So, I started to think about characteristics of him. I think I have come up with the perfect name … Mr. Nice Guy. Yup, that is it.
You see, EVERYONE likes my husband (if you don’t or know someone who doesn’t, you are in the minority). People don’t always like me, but they always like my husband. I hear it all the time … ‘your husband is soooo nice’. He just has a way with people that must be soothing. I, on the other hand, probably rub most people the wrong way. I really don’t do it intentionally - maybe it is my northern roots.
Being in HR is the perfect job. In the past he has come home from work amazed that he can fire someone and by the time they walk out of his office they are thanking him and shaking his hand!!! How is that even possible? I even remember one time we were trying to get a reservation at a restaurant for our group of friends that meet once a year for dinner. Several of my girlfriends had called the restaurant and tried to convince them to reserve us a room or let us have a reservation. They both failed. So, I suggested Mr. Nice Guy (knowing he has a ‘way’ with people). Lo and behold, he got us a reservation. This is just a small sampling. I have gotten kicked (under the table) many of times by Mr. Nice Guy to keep my mouth shut. Haha - God knew I needed that kinda man :) Thank you, Jesus :)
Last Tuesday night was just like any other night. We got all the girls in bed, cleaned up a little bit and headed to bed ourselves. Now, I love sleeping. I know many people have problems going to sleep and/or staying asleep all night – insomnia, right?? Well, I may have a lot of other problems in my life, but that is not one of them. When I hit the pillow at night, I go right to sleep and sleep soundly all night.
I can only think of two times in my life I couldn’t go to sleep and stayed awake all night (this, of course, does not include self-inflicted all-nighters or red eye flights). The first one was on July 17, 1992. After going on dates with Jim for a couple of months, I had pretty much sent him packing – not interested!! Well, I was a flight attendant at the time and was on a layover in Detroit, MI. God had basically whacked me up beside the head and said I was crazy. He had given me the perfect guy and I was letting him go. So, I left Jim a message on his answering machine – just dated myself, kids, cell phones did not exist. I waited all night for him to call me back and he didn’t. I tossed and turned and could not go to sleep. I needed to plead his forgiveness and ask for a second chance that night. So, at 3:30 in the morning I called him again. Needless to say, he answered and forgave me.
The other time I could not go to sleep was the night my dear, dear friend, LaDean, called me right at bedtime and told me she was pregnant with their first child. I was so, so excited for them that I tossed and turned the entire night and never went to sleep.
Now, back to the story (sorry for the rabbit trail). So, Tuesday night was no different. I went right to sleep. I layed down on my super, incredible sleep number mattress. I pulled my soft sheet and down comforter up around me with my head on my soft pillow and went right to sleep. Here is where the mysterious thing happened. I woke up a little before 6 with the most incredible crick in my neck. I went to go roll over and WOW, the pain just shot thru my neck. How, could someone please explain, can I get a terrible crick in my neck by just sleeping in the most lush environment possible???
Of course, I immediately woke Jim up because I am completely selfish and I needed his help. “Jim, can you check my sleep number and see what it is?” And, my incredibly sweet, selfless husband says “uh, sure – hold on let me get it” (the remote for the bed for those of you who aren’t familiar with sleep number). Jim then informs that I am at 85. So, I groan and say “no, it’s supposed to be 65”.
How could a 20 numbers make that much of a difference and send my neck into spasms??? It brings my thoughts to years gone by – many years ago. When people didn’t sleep in lush environments. The Bible talks of people sleeping in caves and tents. I wonder what they felt like in the morning. Is that what they were used to? Are we just completely spoiled?
As I kept thinking, my thoughts were brought to the fact that many people TODAY don’t have a bed to sleep on. We live in a country with many luxuries. So, instead of complaining about my neck hurting, I want to use it as a reminder to pray for people who are much less fortunate than I am. I have been reminded to pray for people who are homeless or have had their homes destroyed by natural disaster. I recently read a blog and the person said “you can always find someone who has it BETTER than you and you can always find someone with circumstances WORSE than you”. Let’s remember to live life in the circumstances God has given us and use the things God has brought in our life as a reminder to pray for others.
Love God, Love People
This is our family motto. What does this really mean? As a Christian, I love God. However, do I play that out in how I love people? I say it does, but does it really? Do we really love people like we should. Oh, it is easy to love those people who are lovable. The ones who are fun to be around and laugh at your jokes and don’t cause any conflict in your life. Yup, I can check that box - I love those people.
But, walk outside of your little world and get in your car. Have you ever had a person honk at you or visibly yell at you (visibly, cuz your windows are up and you can just see them yelling, but can’t hear them). Is it easy to love that person? I know in my little world, I don’t come across people who have tattooed entire limbs of their body. But, when I venture around town and see that greatly tattooed person do I stare? inwardly criticize? avoid them at all cost? or look at them kindly and warmly greet them? I know for me, the natural tendency is to do anything but the last. Why is that? Is that loving people like God talks about in
Matthew 22:36-39 - Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Not to make this long-winded (I could give example after example of people we need to be kind and show love to), I am challenging myself to go out in the world and Love God more by fulfilling his commandment to love people. It might take a little of change thinking - stop, don’t judge, be kind. My sister-in-law wrote this on twitter a couple of days a go - “Never underestimate the power of a small positive - a smile, a compliment, a hug. Give someone a better day today”. What if we all did that? It is simple amazing when you genuinely smile (I say genuine because sometimes I have to tell my girls - during a grumpy phase - to put a smile on their face, and the smile they force on looks painful to the receiver :) at people and are concerned about what they are saying, how they will open up and respond.
So, when you go to the grocery store today and the check-out person or bagger asks you how you are doing, don’t give the canned answer “fine”, “good”, “best I can”. Let Jesus shine thru you and tell them how you are doing and then ask about them. Smile and give someone a compliment today. You just don’t know what is going on their life at the moment. But, please, don’t do this to make yourself feel better. Do this because you love Jesus!!!
September - the new year
Yes, it is September 1. September 1st never really meant that much to me before I had kids in school. It just meant summer was over and we were beginning the march to Christmas.
However, now that my kids are in school it is like a new year!!! Summer vacation is over and we have gone school supply shopping. All of their notebooks, pens and pencils are new and sparkly. Grades are fresh and clean - a clean slate. It is the time, as parents, that we say we are going to be more organized, we set bedtimes and plan our days better.
I don’t know about you, but my exercise slacks off in the summer, too. There is some truth to “the lazy days of summer”. I have made my exercise schedule and have goals to shed those pounds I have gained being lazy this summer. So, it is time to make all those new years resolutions!!! Cheers!! Lift it up to a new school year and “Monique’s New Years Day”!!!
Happy September 1st!!
Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.
