Mondays are for LOVE!

I love that Dan and I always work things out after we fight.

Mondays are for LOVE!

Tomorrow we are heading to Illinois to spend Thanksgiving at my parent's house. Packing and getting out the door have always been a stressful event for me. I am SO thankful that Dan is always calm and helpful during those times. Even though I still get stressed, Dan keeps me from getting super stressed. On this snowy cold Monday, that is what I love about Dan!

Mondays are for LOVE!

I was a complete mess this morning. I called Dan and cried. He listened and continued to listen as he drove home. He showed up and hugged me. I am thankful he has the capability to work from home. I am thankful he is willing to come home and show me he loves me. It has been nice to have him around today. I love him!

Mondays are for LOVE!

Women Living Well is doing 10 days to a Godly Marriage.  After I read Courtney's first post I had a talk with Dan about what he wants from me in our marriage.  I always assume he wants things done like ironing, a good meal and a clean house but he told me he just wants me happy.

"If the house is a mess and you are happy, then I am happy.  I don't want you stressed." 

I love that and it made my Monday so LOVELY which was perfect since Mondays are for LOVE!

Mondays are for LOVE!

This fall has been CRAZY!  I have gotten off track on many things including Mondays are for LOVE!  It is my goal to post something, every Monday, that I LOVE about Dan.  Since I have missed several weeks, I will tell you a few things!

I LOVE that Dan encourages me to pursue my dreams (which is why it has been a CRAZY busy fall!)  My recent dreams include becoming a sponsorship coordinator for FOVC, which is a ministry I visited in southern Ethiopia last January.  I have been super busy keeping up with that job.  Also, I was given an opportunity to lead some workshops on evangelism at a recent women's retreat.  That took two full weekends and many hours of preparation.  Thanks Dan!!

I LOVE that Dan enjoys playing strategy games, like Settlers of Catan, with our two older boys.  Those games drive me nuts but he really enjoys sitting, teaching and playing with them.  I LOVE that!

Marriage isn't easy.  I really appreciate the ministry of Courtney over at Women Living Well.  God has used her to really challenge me in my marriage.  If you need some encouragement in your marriage, check out WLW!

Mondays are for LOVE!

Something I love about Dan is that he is willing to forfeit his alone-time to meet my needs.

Mondays are for LOVE!

About 6 months ago I started to do a weekly post called Mondays are for LOVE! in which I write something that I love about my husband.  Some weeks I am a little late.  So even though it is Tuesday, Mondays are for LOVE! 

I LOVE that Dan comes up with interesting ways to store things in our garage.  This weekend he took time to install some hooks so that all our bikes are hanging up and out of the way.  He also has lots of little shelves and storage areas.   He completely takes care of the garage and I do not have to think about it.  I love that about him!

If you are married, I challenge you to write out one thing you love about your husband.  You can comment below, write it on your own blog or write it in a note to your husband.  Don't just do it once, keep it up!

For encouragement in marriage I highly recommend Women Living Well. Courtney has some wise words on marriage!


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Mondays are for LOVE!

It has been such a crazy summer. I haven't been keeping up with blogging. My Mondays are for LOVE! posts have fallen by the wayside. I love Dan because he doesn't expect perfection out of me. He loves me despite my failures and shortcomings. He loves me even when I forget to blog about why I love him.

Mondays are for LOVE!

I missed my Mondays are for LOVE post but better late than never. I love Dan because, just because :)

Mondays are for LOVE!

Today Dan is in the Dominican Republic, with our oldest son, on a mission's trip. I love that he wanted to go on this trip and share the experience with our son. Dan, I love you and I'm praying for you!

Mondays are for LOVE!

On Monday, July 4th, we were at our cabin. It was a wonderful weekend. The cabin is one of Dan's favorite places in the world. It was built by his great-grandfather back in the 1930's. I love seeing him at the cabin. Here are a few pictures of Dan from the weekend.

Fixing the screen door

He loves to read and always devours a few books on cabin weekends

Mondays are for LOVE!

I so appreciate that Dan goes to work everyday. He doesn't really like his job but God has provided it and it pays great! We are both thankful for His provision in our lives. I am thankful Dan continues on, even though he would rather be pursuing other things. I am thankful he trusts God to guide our family.

Mondays are for LOVE!

Thanks, Dan, for being a wonderful husband and father!

My husband rocks because he has no feet.

Um, did you just say, no feet?

Yep, that's right, no feet!

The one area of the human body that I cannot stand is the feet. There is something about those wiggly, stinky toes that drives me crazy. Just ask my three boys. They know that touching mommy with their feet is forbidden!

In 1996, my roommate Christy, set me up on a blind date. She had met Dan several weeks earlier and kept talking about him. I teased her about liking him but she said, "He's not my type, actually, he's your type." After I agreed to the blind date she said, "By the way, he has no feet." I immediately thought, "A guy with no wiggly, stinky toes, could it really be true?! How could I be so lucky?"

Dan was born in the late 60's before ultrasounds were common. His parents were surprised at his early arrival and even more surprised to learn that he was missing bones in both ankles and feet.

He had one toe on his left foot and two toes on his right.

Within a year Dan's deformed feet were amputated in hopes that he could be fitted with prosthetics. Babies do not know what is normal, so by age one Dan was up and running on his stumps. Shortly after his first birthday he received his first pair of artificial legs. His mom said he cried when they first strapped them on but within a week he was running around the house.

17 months old

Over the years Dan has stayed active. He loves to bike, ski and walks normal. Most people cannot tell he has artificial legs unless he is wearing shorts. I remember a lady at our church being shocked to learn about Dan's legs, since she had known him for six years. Dan said the hardest part about growing up was Jr. High. Poor guy, the kids were merciless and he was teased about his legs. In retrospect, Dan says that if it wasn't the legs he would have been teased about something else.

In the 15 years that I have known Dan he has never once complained about his legs. I know he deals with physical pain on an ongoing basis. His stumps get sore, he deals with skin irritation because of the liners and he cannot take long walks without occasionally sitting to rest. Being a double amputee, even from birth, has its struggles. Dan's attitude about life is amazing! I admire him so much. Sure, there are times when he "takes advantage" of having two artificial legs like when we are resting on the couch and the doorbell rings. Dan will proceed to kick a leg off and grin at me with a twinkle in his eye. He makes me laugh. He is not sensitive about his amputation and often jokes about his "fake legs".

I think my husband rocks because he has no feet! I love his amazing attitude about life, living it the way God intended for him. Also, I love the fact that I never feel his wiggly toes or smell his stinky feet. He is perfect for me! I am SO lucky that God gave me a husband with no feet.

A few months ago I decided to be more intentional about praising Dan. Marriage is hard and I am selfish. To fight for our marriage I decided that Mondays are for LOVE! Check out those posts to see all the OTHER reasons that My Husband Rocks!

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Mondays are for LOVE!

This past week I did a fundraiser for Ethiopia. I had a ton of help from so many people. I am thrilled that FOVC is $1400 closer to digging a much needed well in the village of Shanto, located in Southern Ethiopia.

I am so thankful for all of Dan's support and help. I love how he supports the things that I am passionate about. I am passionate about him!! Thank you, Jesus, for giving me a wonderful husband.

Mondays are for LOVE!

I forgot to post my Mondays are for LOVE! yesterday. It was my 39th birthday. I was busy getting ready for my fundraiser. I took a packed van load of donations over to my friend's house. She is hosting the sale since she lives in the ideal location. THANKS AMY!!

I love Dan because he always supports my efforts to help others. Whenever I talk with him about a need I have heard about, he usually response, "So how much money are we donating?"

Thanks Dan for letting me go to Ethiopia and work hard at making a difference in the world. Also, thanks for bringing home Panera Bread for dinner. It was delicious! Thanks for letting me have the whole evening to run errands and do prep work for the fundraiser. Thanks for helping me have a fabulous birthday!

Mondays are for LOVE!

Ok, it is Tuesday but still, Mondays are for LOVE! I love Dan because he is very considerate. This past weekend he took our youngest and oldest boys to the cabin. He told me to stay home with our middle son, who had been invited to a birthday party sleepover, and get work done for my upcoming fundraiser for Ethiopia.

On June 9-11 I am having a HUGE garage sale. All the money raised will be donated to FOVC for their Waterworks for Shanto fund. In January I saw how desparately this village needed more water, clean filtered water. The cost of a well is approximately $15,000. The final costs have not been determined. I would LOVE to raised $15,000. It seems like a lot but I am praying!

Love you Dan for letting me do the things that are important to me even if it means taking over the garage for a few weeks :)

Mondays are for LOVE!

I love Dan because he protects me.

Mondays are for LOVE!

I love my husband because he puts up with me :)

Love you Dan!!

Mondays are for LOVE!

For me, it is not just Mother's Day, it is Mother's Day Weekend! I love Dan because he lets me have a whole weekend to relax, take a break and be celebrated! On Sunday morning I realized we were out of milk and I apologized to him. On a normal weekend I would of noticed and taken care of those details. He reminded me that it was Mother's Day Weekend and I should not feel guilty. So he ran out to the grocery store before church and brought home milk so we could have breakfast, along with chocolate milk and powdered donuts. The boys were thrilled! He is so cute :)

Mondays are for LOVE!

I love that Dan has a sense of humor. He makes me laugh (and sometimes groan) at his silliness. I know where my boys get it! Although, what is funny to boys is not always funny to adults. I know they will grow into their humor and make their future wives laugh, just like Dan.