"Doing" Marriage Alone

Happy Monday! I hope everyone is off to a great week! Ashish, Jordan, and I are headed out of town for a short trip on Wednesday and then back home for his first T-Ball game! Oh, did I mention that he was playing T-Ball? No? Sorry! We signed him up, as a last minute thing. So far, we've only practiced 3 times because of the cold and rain. I'm super excited to see him in his little t-ball uniform!

Let's talk marriage for a few minutes. Over the weekend, I was talking with a friend about husbands and marriage and she said "you and Ashish don't go anywhere alone. You two are always together." To which I replied, "yeah, we don't really "do" life alone." To which I got a blank stare. I didn't think that what I said was that thought provoking. I didn't think that I said anything really profound. The truth is, we don't do life alone. We make a point to spend time together a lot. Whether that time is as a family or just as a couple. We go to birthday parties together. We both go to T-Ball. We go to Target together. We shop together. We visit friends together. We even plan doctor's appts for days when we can both go.  We do these things together because we want to, not because we have to. There is a difference.

We make alone time a priority in our marriage. Both of our parents are nearby and always willing to take Jordan for a couple hours or sometimes the night so that makes it easier. But, even if our parents weren't close, we would find a way to spend time together. It's by far the most important thing in our marriage. 

Don't get me wrong, we both have our own interests and hobbies. We have our own friends. I go out with my girlfriends at least once a month. I meet up with a high school friend for dinner once a month. I purposely plan my nights out with my friends on the nights that Ashish works late. I'm selfish with my family and husband time. If he's home, I want to be with him. I don't feel bad for leaving him if he is home, but I would hangout with him if I had the choice. I don't want to do life without him. 

In small group we talked about praying for a spouse for our children. If I were to pray for a spouse for Jordan, I would pray that he would find someone that he wants to do life with. The good and the bad. Someone that will fight for him and fight with him. I pray that he finds someone that respects him for him but isn't afraid to challenge him. Most of all, I pray that he never has to "do" marriage alone.

So tell me, are Ashish and I in the majority or the minority? How do you and your husband "do" life?

Danielle Lately

I know, I know, it's been a while. I wish I had some grand reason as to why I haven't blogged but I don't. I've been lazy. I've been reading other's blogs and commenting but not really giving much attention to my blog. So, here is a little update on what's going on with me...lately!

Jordan turned four on Feb 5th. I still can't believe it. Yes, the time is going by so fast but at the same time, in my mind, he is still a baby. The other day he said "is that cool with you, mom?" My head almost did a 360. That was such a "big boy" phrase. I can't handle it!

I, along with two other friends, are hosting a triple baby shower on Sunday! Yep-three mamas, three babies! Our small group is awesome.

We are taking a mini vacation next week! Ask me where we're going! We don't know! LOL! We originally planned to head to Pigeon Forge but they have a good amount of snow right now. No thanks! We may head south.




We have an important doctor's appointment coming up on Wednesday! Please keep us in your prayers! I know that God has a great plan for us and everything is in his timing. I also know that I am impatient. Please pray for patience!

Thanks all I've got! Have a great weekend!

Girlfriends, God Moments, and Small Group..Oh My!

Good Morning! I haven't blogged in so long that I wasn't really sure what to blog about this morning. So much as happened in the past month and I want to catch you all up but I'm going to have to do that in several different posts! Today, I want to talk about girlfriends! Let me just say, I have the best girlfriends. Hands.down. I have so many great, God- fearing women that surround me. Whenever I bring my worries and concerns to them, I know that I am automatically covered in prayer. All I have to do is say the word and sometimes I don't have to say anything. Several of them just know me. They know my actions and my behaviors. They are fully of aware when I'm feeling out of whack.

Small group started back last night and as much as I was looking forward to it, I was dreading it. Ashish can't make it to small group this semester because of his work schedule so I am doing it alone. Luckily, our small group is like family to us. The men are like my brother in laws and the women are like my sisters. I really had no reason to be anxious, but I was. It took one look from a friend, and all of my anxiety faded away. God moment front and center! He brought me to this place and knew what I needed and delivered. He always does. I had a great time from that point on. It feels good to be with these people! I was even asked to be the "Social Coordinator" for the group! Fancy title right?!?

Tonight I am headed to dinner with those same girls for a "child -free" night out! I hope you have a great weekend!

Side note: Jordan will be 4 on Tuesday. I can't handle it! I remember when he was like this...

Stayin' Alive

We are still alive here in Atlanta! January has been such a busy month for us. I am going to work on getting back into blogging. Until then, I'll leave you with some pics!

Merry Christmas!

From Our Family To Yours!

Moved

My life changed this weekend. On Friday as we drove Jordan to my in-laws, I said a silent prayer for him, for his safety, for God's continued grace. Jordan was spending the weekend with them because Ashish and I were attending Christmas parties and serving at the church over the weekend. This isn't uncommon, we leave him with them often. They take care of him, maybe better care than I do. He is well fed, bathed in the best bubble baths, and greased down like a little chicken (how do you like that Abbey?)! So why was it so hard for me to leave him? As we were driving, more and more reports of the S.H. Elementary School shooting were coming in on the radio. More details, more fatalities, more outraged people. My heart was heavy.

As I kissed Jordan goodbye, I whispered another short prayer, for his protection. Although I thought my prayer was quiet, Jordan heard it and whispered back "dear God, thank you for this day, I will be okay."

Every night we start our prayers with "Dear God" and we go on to pray for our friends and family. We often pray for our neighbor, Ms. Barbara, and for warm beds. I typically have to lead the prayer and Jordan just repeats. For him to pray his own prayer meant so much. It meant that all of our prayers that we pray mean something to him. It meant that he listened to what we were praying for instead of just repeating. But, most of all, it meant the he knew how to pray for what I needed to hear, without even knowing.

Ashish and I went on to have an amazing weekend (which I will blog about tomorrow sometime this week). Jordan came back to us, full of energy, and happy. He was unharmed. He was perfect.

My prayers are still with the families that were so greatly affected by the shooting. I've been on my knees in prayer for healing and guidance. I continue to hold onto the fact the God is good.

James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Heavy Hearted

I don't typically comment or blog on current events. I don't get into political debates with friends or strangers. I hold fast to my beliefs and have a very good sense of how I am. I'm a child of God, a wife, a daughter, and a sister. I'm an educator, a neighbor, and a daughter in law. But, above all, I am a mother. My heart is heavy today. 18 children, between the ages of 5-10, had their lives taken before it really ever began. 18 mothers are at home without the children that they sent to school this morning. 18 families are broken. My head is spinning with the "hows" and the "whys."

This event has our country in shock. You don't have to be a parent to be heartbroken. If you know a child, work with children, or have your own child(ren), you are affected.

Let's pray for these families. Pray for our country. Pray that God gives these parents comfort in the midst of severe tragedy. I will be holding Jordan a little bit tighter tonight. I will be thanking God for continuing to bless our family and friends.

My heart is heavy.