The Happening(s)
No, no, no - not *that* awful movie...
Update(s).
So much to tell....so wanting to just go lie down...so tired lately...scared...but happy.
For starters, Erin and I actually went to a Marriage Encounter Weekend - talk about a throw-back to the 70s (which sucked on the whole as a decade), but I digress...
Anyhow it was nice - it was difficult and draining...it brought me closer to my husband. And while one might say or ask what the hell a couple only married for 8 months needs one of these marriage encounter weekends for - the answer might not be one you expect.
The entire time Erin and I were engaged, we'd read about all these cool things for married couples to attend via the 'Church' - we'd complain that there was nothing of the sort for engaged couples and I think a lot of times we both felt we needed more than just the one-day Pre-Cana II class we attended. So for Christmas, aside from getting me 'Fireproof' (the movie) and the 'Love Dare' book (from the movie too) - Erin registered us for a Marriage Encounter weekend to fall on Valentine's Day.
We have been using the book 'The Love Dare' and I have to say some of this stuff just simply does not apply to us. We already DO do a lot of these things for one another - we are after all still newlyweds. The movie was good - not academy award winning stuff, but good for couples to watch.
We showed up for the weekend and we were immediately brought in and began 'working' on the 'course' - we were, we both noticed, one of the only couples snuggling while we sat together - that was to be the standard for most of the weekend.
The weekend, seriously, in a word was, grueling. If it's going to work, you have to be willing peel away your defenses, let your guard down and get intimate with the person you are suppose to be most intimate with - your partner. We hit exactly one bump. All the rest was beautiful - really - I feel much closer to Erin now. He 'witnessed' to the other couples and they all applauded when he told them how much he loved me and how passionate he was about me. I had a had a hard time following up his beautiful sentiment - but I did and I spoke of how wonderful Erin is and what a good husband he is - and how lucky I am to have him as my spouse.
At the end of the weekend, I felt really drawn to one of the other couples, I identified with them and I hope to continue to stay in touch with them.
Erin and I also were able to renew our vows at the end of the weekend.
I could sit here and complain about the parts of the weekend I did not enjoy but I won't - that's not what's needed in this forum. I will say it gave us some tools for staying close and I think we will use those tools and I also think we would go again in the future.
Following the Marriage Encounter weekend, there was a celebration of 'Marriage Day' at our church where, at the end of mass, we got to renew our vows....again...we seem to be getting good at this. After mass, there was a pot luck dinner for couples and it was very nice seeing couples from our church and talking with fellow couples that we both call 'friend' - breaking bread and celebrating the sacrament and blessing (mixed though it may be at times) of holy matrimony.
I love my husband - and I believe I grow more in love with each passing day...and I never thought I'd say that about someone.
***********
There's more going on of course....of note - issues with the kids. They are both struggling in school and finally we have come to a point where we need help dealing with these issues. Pray for us that this works - the kids are amazing. They are good kids. We just need ti impress upon them the importance of their school work. Hopefully with this help the situation will right itself.
************
Fun.
Took the kids to see 'Coraline'
Just go - it was wonderful...really - I have Neil Gaiman books yet to read....and of course I WILL - I swear I will - just don't pass this movie up - especially if you have someone you love to share it with - and if you can see it in 3D.
************
Family - extended - but not really....
Got to spend today (after teaching a rousing PSR class with my husband (and yes I am being sarcastic - I've met Zombies more animated than our kids from class were today) - with my brother Kevin and his wife Roseanne and their kids Kate and Pat and we attended a service at Trinity Cathedral - an absolutely, breath-taking and gorgeous church - where I felt very at home, very welcome - I look forward to attending again very soon...(it is the first time I felt like I was close to Ireland since we got back from our honeymoon)....
If you live in Cleveland or work downtown - go check out the Cathedral - well worth the visit:
Spending time like this with my brother's family is great fun because in a way, I get to be able to raise kids at the same time my siblings are raising their kids (my sister as well has a younger daughter)- strange on some levels...my biological children are all older than my brother's and sister's children - so now with the blessing of Katie and Jason in my life we get to have 'play dates' and sleep overs...nice, very nice.
Round it off with a buffet at an Indian restaurant and I think we may have achieved Nirvana.
************
Health....just say a prayer - I have to have some more tests and I am just hoping that everything will be OK....not the note I want to end on here...but it is well...reality.
Peace to you all.
Update(s).
So much to tell....so wanting to just go lie down...so tired lately...scared...but happy.
For starters, Erin and I actually went to a Marriage Encounter Weekend - talk about a throw-back to the 70s (which sucked on the whole as a decade), but I digress...
Anyhow it was nice - it was difficult and draining...it brought me closer to my husband. And while one might say or ask what the hell a couple only married for 8 months needs one of these marriage encounter weekends for - the answer might not be one you expect.
The entire time Erin and I were engaged, we'd read about all these cool things for married couples to attend via the 'Church' - we'd complain that there was nothing of the sort for engaged couples and I think a lot of times we both felt we needed more than just the one-day Pre-Cana II class we attended. So for Christmas, aside from getting me 'Fireproof' (the movie) and the 'Love Dare' book (from the movie too) - Erin registered us for a Marriage Encounter weekend to fall on Valentine's Day.
We have been using the book 'The Love Dare' and I have to say some of this stuff just simply does not apply to us. We already DO do a lot of these things for one another - we are after all still newlyweds. The movie was good - not academy award winning stuff, but good for couples to watch.
We showed up for the weekend and we were immediately brought in and began 'working' on the 'course' - we were, we both noticed, one of the only couples snuggling while we sat together - that was to be the standard for most of the weekend.
The weekend, seriously, in a word was, grueling. If it's going to work, you have to be willing peel away your defenses, let your guard down and get intimate with the person you are suppose to be most intimate with - your partner. We hit exactly one bump. All the rest was beautiful - really - I feel much closer to Erin now. He 'witnessed' to the other couples and they all applauded when he told them how much he loved me and how passionate he was about me. I had a had a hard time following up his beautiful sentiment - but I did and I spoke of how wonderful Erin is and what a good husband he is - and how lucky I am to have him as my spouse.
At the end of the weekend, I felt really drawn to one of the other couples, I identified with them and I hope to continue to stay in touch with them.
Erin and I also were able to renew our vows at the end of the weekend.
I could sit here and complain about the parts of the weekend I did not enjoy but I won't - that's not what's needed in this forum. I will say it gave us some tools for staying close and I think we will use those tools and I also think we would go again in the future.
Following the Marriage Encounter weekend, there was a celebration of 'Marriage Day' at our church where, at the end of mass, we got to renew our vows....again...we seem to be getting good at this. After mass, there was a pot luck dinner for couples and it was very nice seeing couples from our church and talking with fellow couples that we both call 'friend' - breaking bread and celebrating the sacrament and blessing (mixed though it may be at times) of holy matrimony.
I love my husband - and I believe I grow more in love with each passing day...and I never thought I'd say that about someone.
***********
There's more going on of course....of note - issues with the kids. They are both struggling in school and finally we have come to a point where we need help dealing with these issues. Pray for us that this works - the kids are amazing. They are good kids. We just need ti impress upon them the importance of their school work. Hopefully with this help the situation will right itself.
************
Fun.
Took the kids to see 'Coraline'
Just go - it was wonderful...really - I have Neil Gaiman books yet to read....and of course I WILL - I swear I will - just don't pass this movie up - especially if you have someone you love to share it with - and if you can see it in 3D.
************
Family - extended - but not really....
Got to spend today (after teaching a rousing PSR class with my husband (and yes I am being sarcastic - I've met Zombies more animated than our kids from class were today) - with my brother Kevin and his wife Roseanne and their kids Kate and Pat and we attended a service at Trinity Cathedral - an absolutely, breath-taking and gorgeous church - where I felt very at home, very welcome - I look forward to attending again very soon...(it is the first time I felt like I was close to Ireland since we got back from our honeymoon)....
If you live in Cleveland or work downtown - go check out the Cathedral - well worth the visit:
Spending time like this with my brother's family is great fun because in a way, I get to be able to raise kids at the same time my siblings are raising their kids (my sister as well has a younger daughter)- strange on some levels...my biological children are all older than my brother's and sister's children - so now with the blessing of Katie and Jason in my life we get to have 'play dates' and sleep overs...nice, very nice.
Round it off with a buffet at an Indian restaurant and I think we may have achieved Nirvana.
************
Health....just say a prayer - I have to have some more tests and I am just hoping that everything will be OK....not the note I want to end on here...but it is well...reality.
Peace to you all.
Labels: Family, Life, Love, Relationship
posted by Colette at 9:35 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home