The Love Dare: Day 2-7

The Love Dare: Day 2-8

OK, so I want to apologize for not posting everyday as promised…I had some mishaps with my internet services and could really only check things out from work. I did, however, make notes so I could write once things were up and running.

Day2: Love is Kind

This day was not as difficult as the previous day…the dare was to, in addition to not saying anything negative, doing a kind gesture for my husband. I offered my husband if he wanted me to bring him coffee to his job. He said “no” but I guess it was the thought that counted…I’m not even sure he noticed. I still think that not saying anything negative is more difficult than doing something thoughtful. I am very quick with the tongue and I’ve become increasingly aware of it.

Day 3: Love is not selfish

Today was actually fun…it was a little easier to hold my tongue and not be rude and I was nice to think of what I would get him. Since my hubby and I are both doing the dare we decided to set a budget of 10.00. I thought what to buy him all day and I guess that what the book says is true, “whatever your time, energy and money into will become more important to you.” I thought of him all day and looked forward to him coming home from work so we could exchange gifts. Of course I went over the budget (what’s new?) but only by a few dollars. I can honestly say that things feel like they are improving.

Day 4: Love is thoughtful & Day 5: Love is not rude

The dare for day 4 was to call your spouse, out of the blue, and ask if there was anything we could do for each other. Truthfully speaking, hubby and I don’t have a problem there. We speak several times and day and often for no reason at all; I did what the book dared and asked if there was anything he needed. He was also thoughtful and went as far as to call me several times through the say and even brought me my favorite coffee that morning.
As for day 5, well, that hit very close to home! The dare was to tell your spouse 3 things that cause him/her to be uncomfortable with you. I, as usual, had to narrow the list down to 3…and when he gave me his three is was very difficult not to go off and justify my actions. I took my medicine like a big girl and swallowed the bitter truth about myself. This has to be my biggest flaw and the book continues to remind me of all I have to work on…wish me luck!

Day 6: Love is not irritable

Ok, I thought day 1 & 5 was hard---pie next to day 6!!!!!! How flawed am I????? Really? Ok, if the previous days hit close to home, today the ball broke through the window and banged right into the back of my head. I am truly not as perfect as I thought I was. I knew I had things to work on but OMG!! I thought this journey would be all about him realizing what a “jerk” he can be sometimes. Don’t get me wrong, my hubby is great and I adore him but, like any other human being, he can be difficult. Maybe I’m just as difficult? Is that a possibility? Nah! I guess it’s true. Someone told me once that the problem and the solution are always staring back at you in the mirror...how true that is. I don’t think that this is hubby’s issue, he is VERY (irritatingly) not irritable at all. Today’s dare was to react to tough circumstances in a loving way instead of with irritation. This one was hard and there were a couple of times in which I just had to walk away and when he would ask me what was wrong I simply responded with, “I’m choosing to say nothing right now”…it’s sort of become our way of holding our tongue from saying something mean and letting each other know not to continue asking “what’s wrong?”

Day 7: Love believes the best

Today was less of a struggle for me, thank God! I don’t think I could have handles another dare like the one from yesterday. Today’s dare was to get 2 sheets of paper, on one I was to write down positive things about hubby and on the other the negative. Then I had to put the lists away for another day; I also had to thank him for one of the positive things I wrote about him. This was fairly easy do, although one list was longer than the other (guess which one). I thanked him for being thoughtful, and honestly, when he puts his heart and mind to it he can be really thoughtful. He thanked me for being sweet...isn’t that sweet? Today was a good day.

Toay's reading also brought me to tears today because it opened my eyes about how ealily we poison our own hearts. Every day's reading have become a blessing for me.

Well, now that I have caught you up on my daring journey, I will let you go. Thanks for reading my rambling thought and brace yourself…7 down, 33 to go!

P.S.
Oh, just in case you tried to guess which list was longer…it was the positive. Not that the negative was far behind but I searched through every crevice of my heart to ensure it would be this way—if not what am I fighting for?


Marisol

Day 1: Love is Patient

Well, what a doozy to start with! I have to be about the least patient person on the face of this earth. I really hate to admit it because those are things that you know you are, you just don't really admit it--not proper. So today's love dare was that--patience. The books quotes scripture and of the material I read today there was one that stood out:

"He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick tempered exalts folly." Proverbs 14:29

Well, I thought that all that time my husband said something to me and I was quick to reply with a wiser remark...i thought I was winning. It turns out that I would be that much wiser if I just kept my mouth shut. Now I know it's easier said than done...and in today's society a woman does not need to cower at the foot of anyone. But that's not what this is saying, it simply says...don't be so quick to open your big mouth and say something that will escalate the situation, or before you say something you may regret or even hurt those around you. That's it!!! I'm not less of a person if I just stop and think or even hold my tongue from time to time.

Well, if there was any lesson my mother taught me it was that you never ask God for patience...you can only gain patience by going through trials which build that patience. Today I did just that...I asked for patience and sure enough, the day began with trials. They began flying towards us at about 8 am and haven't stopped yet. But the difference today was that I was emotionally prepared to handle things differently today. In spite of all the days events, today was not half bad--almost tolerable. A week ago I might have been running to the medicine cabinet or in front of a moving vehicle but not today.

So there might be something to this book. I will try to keep my future posts to a minimum but today was a bit of a revelation for me.

Tomorrow: Love is kind

See you then!

"The Love Dare"

Hello out there!

Most of us set resolutions at the end of each year in hopes that each new year will be filled with all that we feel we could have and should have accomplished the previous year. For me, this year was without exception...but I vowed it would be different. I didn't set too many specific resolutions, I didn't write them down or list them to anyone who would listen. Instead I set them in my heart. Today, I reveal only one of my resolutions...self improvement. I really wasn't aware of how much improvement I would actually need until recent days...who would have thought?

I think that with hard economic times comes a ton of problems that we aren't always emotionaly prepared for. Over the past six weeks (or so), things on the home front haven't been completely kosher. As a result, my loving husband suggested we look into a book by the name of "The Love Dare". Now I love to read (unlike my husband) and in lieu of an insane asylum or divorce court, I decided it was time to begin working on the self-improvement portion of my resolutions.

So here I (we) are, about to embark to the ship of progress. Over the next 40 days we will be participating in a number of activities that are meant to improve our life and, most importantly, our marriage. We will be attending a seminar called "Laugh your way to a better marriage" and this month we begin "The Great Date Experiment".

Please, if you're reading this...pray for me, I know my flaw filled self!!!! I will need Jesus through this journey, LOL! I plan on reporting the results of this 40 day experience and hope that if anyone is in my same boat...well, you know you're not alone!

P.S.
I HATE editing my thoughts so if there are any miss spellings, words eaten, or offensive remarks made...don't take it personal.

Turning over a new leaf,

Marisol

Cupcake Mini

HI Everyone!!

I finally finished it!! It took me a little while and it was quite a challenge but I did it! I had tons of fun and it was a learning experience but I'm ready to do more.


It's what you learn after you know it all that counts.
~Attributed to Harry S. Truman

Oh happy day!

Today was pretty ordinary, I was fortunate enough to have taken the day off from work and I didn't do much. Sometimes it's really nice to not do much of anything, no work, no worries...just kinda lost in the moment. I promised myself that this year I would take, at least one day a week(or month) off from worrying. I'm sure it's going to be hard but I'm worth the work. So today I challenge you to take a day off from worrying...do something or do nothing but do not worry about the things life brings you for just a moment. Life is unexpectedly delicate so treat yourself with care from time to time. 'Til next time, remember to stop and enjoy the moment!

(p.s. I also went to the store...that always makes me happy!)

The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.
-Allan K. Chalmers

Disaster Strikes!!!

I know that with scrapping,and shopping and all the fun things that we do, we try to enjoy the moment and escape to a place where there are no worries. Today the country of Haiti encountered a national disaster which has affected thousands of fellow human beings. The 7.0 earthquake has devastated many parts of the county, even causing their National Palace to collapse. Can you imagine the grief that we would feel if we saw a symbol of our country come down on itself? I work with and provide services for many Haitians and my husband and his family are from the neighboring country of Dominican Republic and it hit a little close to home. I just want all those who can find it in their heart to set aside 60 seconds of your time to say a prayer for all those that will be affected. Thanks!

"We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey."
-Kenji Miyazawa

Deux Sabby Chic

Hi!! I am now a member of Deux Shabby Chic (DSC), I am very excited to work with such a talented group of ladies. Please check out their blog, there's alot to learn from them!

Get over the idea that only children should spend their time in study. Be a student so long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life. ~Henry L. Doherty