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Marriage Questionnaire

This is the marriage letter we handed out to each person in our small group this evening. Along with the questionnaire, they all received a business size envelope. The instructions were to fill out the letter, put it in the envelope with your name on the front, and seal up the envelope.

I believe that God cares deeply about our marriages and that He alone has the ability to change people and relationships. I think the marriage dvd series we are beginning next week is going to be a powerful one. I can’t wait to see how God is going to work in our marriages through the study!

We wanted the group to get a little snapshot of their marriage as it is now–hence the letters. We’ll open up the envelopes and look at our responses in six months or so.

Now to pray sincerely and fervently for the marriages in our small group!!!

Marriage Questionnaire

1. How would you rate your marriage on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the highest)?

Give a brief explanation for your rating.

2. List 4 ways you would like to improve as a wife/husband.

  • a.
  • b.
  • c.
  • d.

3. List 4 things you would like to see your husband/wife change or improve.

  • a.
  • b.
  • c.
  • d.

4. For the wives: Do you respect your husband?
Does he feel respected by you?
Do you feel loved by your husband?

For the husbands: Do you love your wife?
Does your wife feel loved by you?
Do you feel respected by your wife?

Love Languages:
Physical Touch
Gifts
Quality Time
Acts of Service
Words of Affirmation

5. Do you know your love language? What is it?

6. Do you know your spouse’s love language? What is it?

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Project 365 – Day Seven (Sun-K)

It’s Sunday, the last (or first, depending on your perspective) day of the week. I feel a bit sheepish about featuring myself on the blog since so much of this entire project centers around me and my thoughts/reflections on our family. Still, I said each family member would get a day so I guess today is my turn.

K and the tree
My gorgeous new Thai jacket from Tina!!

Busy Sunday full of people and activity. We had church in the morning. Tim led our Sunday School class on 1 Corinthians 4–good size group which meant lots of lively discussion and study.

Rachel worked with the elementary age kids during the service so we didn’t have her sitting with us. The pew seemed empty without her. We so enjoy having all the children (except for Sarah who stays in her preschool class) sit in church with us.

Tim had to slip out near the end of the service for a retreat center board meeting in Olympia. Now the pew was definitely too empty. I remember the Sunday the kids performed in the Christmas concert. Tim sat up front to video tape the service and the rest of the children (except Joshua) were in the play. My goodness, I felt bereft of all friends and family. It was terrible! I can see why my mom and mother in law are always so delighted to be in church with the whole pew full of children and grandchildren.

David at church
David standing outside his class room, Bible in hand.

After church the children helped me to get the house ready for our Bible study group. I used the new whiteboard to make a big list of everything that needed to be done. I tried to emulate Tim (who knows how to make up FUN lists) and include things like ‘play computer games’ and ‘take Matthias out.’

The kids worked very hard to get everything done and there was still some time for relaxing/recreation. I hired Joshua (who immediately contracted Rachel) to clean up the garage. We have a lot of children in our small group and need the garage available as a place for movies, wrestling, and general play. Joshua and Rachel took a long time but did an excellent job. It was so nice to have some extra hands available to share the burden.

We had a great small group. A couple from our Sunday school class joined our group today (they are good friends of ours from the homeschooling co-op). My kids were thrilled to have them come as it meant 5 more (older) companions. Most of the couples in our group have young children (two have babies). There was MUCH running around, board games, wrestling, dumping out of toys, etc. Ha!

Next week we are starting a DVD study by Emerson and Sarah Eggerichs called Love and Respect. I’m very excited about it as Tim and I attended a conference hosted by the Eggerichs several years ago and it was excellent. Tonight we filled out a marriage questionnaire and sealed them up in envelopes to be revisited after we finish the study. We spent the rest of the time in boy/girl groups sharing. Good conversation, lots of laughter.

Well, that’s the first complete week of Project 365. Very exciting! I’m sure I won’t continue such lengthy, daily blogs but it is nice to have a place to do some family journaling.

Kathy and David
The best 5 year old in the world and his mama.

Kathy

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Taking down the lights

Unlike most Washington days, the heavens did NOT open forth and shower us with it’s rain today. There is word that another storm is on the horizon so, in a moment of unprecedented wisdom, we asked the kids to take down the Christmas lights. It certainly is nice to have such wonderful helpers in the family.

Joshua lightsDaniel and the lights

Joshua's lights

Rachel and Tim both voted to keep the Christmas tree up a little longer. The whole family is sad to see Christmas truly come to an end. So I guess the lights will come down but the tree will stay in place.

A bunch of tree huggers.

Rachel and the treeJoshua's tree

Sarah and David took a bath this evening. So nice to be all fresh and clean before church tomorrow. They are a silly twosome.

s and D

Silly S and DClean kiddos

Time to stop blogging and get some housework done before the day is over.

Kathy

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Project 365 – Day Six (Sat-T)

Saturday is here! Our couch broke this afternoon. Sigh. It’s always something. The screw on one of the back legs broke. Tim thinks it can be (fairly easily) fixed. A friend happened to be visiting while the couch was overturned. She said her grandparents are getting some new furniture and have a couch and chair for sale. Hmmm. Interesting timing. I saw a picture and they are beautiful pieces. The price is great so it’s just a matter of whether we have the money right now or not. Something for prayer and further consideration.

Daniel, of course, has decided the upside down couch makes a great spot for a fort. He and Tim had fun playing a new version of hide and seek.

tim and d couch time

Definitely brings new meaning to the term “couch time” or “couch potatoes.”

Hard to believe this calm, serene gentleman would wield a pillow with such ferocity.
resting tim

And yet, the proof is in the pudding, so to speak.

pillow fight

For Christmas, Daniel and Joshua bought Tim a new computer game. It’s been a huge hit with the entire family. Pirates by Sid Meier’spirates
Daniel and Joshua have both enjoyed playing the game. Rachel and David prefer to watch Tim play. There is sword fighting, battles between sailing vessels, and ballroom dancing. I guess you could say there is a little bit in there for everyone. Ha!

family computing

It’s safe to say this game is quite the family entertainment.

Kathy

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White board and new haircut

We had a fairly relaxing day today. I told the children this would be the last ‘easy’ day of school for a while. Next week we will be back on track, full speed ahead and all of that. Still, it was nice to have time to linger over e-mail, research digital scrapbooking, chat with friends, and still get in a little bit of school. We did math, Bible and reading. Definitely ‘light’ school.

Tim’s parents gave me a Home Depot gift card for Christmas. It was a perfect present as I am working on creating a homeschooling wall in our dining room. A friend told me about a way to use shower board to create a large whiteboard. I found more details online and decided to try it out. Shower board runs around $13 at Home Depot (or Lowes). We had them cut off a foot so it would fit on the wall (could have cut off more). We bought some molding to go around the board but haven’t installed it yet.

Tim’s parents happened to come by just as we were putting up the board and Tim’s father helped to get it into place. Tim was thankful for the extra pair of hands and the knowledgeable wisdom from his dad who has done much carpentry over the years. Today, while I was starting our Bible reading, the older kids, one by one, gravitated to the new whiteboard. At one point all three of them were writing/drawing on it. My main purpose in adding this to our homeschool is for teaching (math problems, vocabulary words, to do lists, etc) but today it was a drawing board for the children.

whiteboardmore whiteboard

A friend came over for a brief visit this morning. She mentioned her afternoon hair appointment and I decided to try and join her. I haven’t had a hair cut since July (I probably shouldn’t put that in writing). We called the salon and sure enough there was an opening. We planned to go together and have some visiting time as well. Alas, that was not to be. The hairdresser called me back and said the other stylist hadn’t shown up. Rats. Now I had this overwhelming desire to get my hair cut. Thankfully there was a cancellation for an evening spot and I could still get in today.

I wish I had taken a ‘before’ picture so I could more truly appreciate the difference. I have a photo from December which will have to do.

Christmas before hair shot

The kids were all very surprised with my new ‘look.’ Sarah hugged and petted me (literally) and admired it. She told me, “I know why you went to get your hair cut, it didn’t look very pretty today and you decided to go and be beautiful.” Sigh. Out of the mouths of babes and what not. David was the most shocked. He came into the room and literally stepped back a pace or two when he saw me. “Mommy, I didn’t even know that was you. I thought it was a different person.” Too funny.

I guess moms aren’t supposed to change very much.new haircutclose up

Thankfully I am still loved, new hair cut or old. Whew!

Sarah and mommyThree girls

Kathy

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