Raising Up Romantics

For years now on special occasions (my birthday, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, our Anniversary), my husband has bought me cards and left them in various places throughout our house or my vehicle where I happen upon them throughout the day. It is a sweet gesture that I have learned to look more and more forward to each year. He usually gets me a funny card, a more basic card, and a serious/romantic card. Some of these cards even make it into my top dresser drawer where I have a card "collection" from throughout the years. I have yet to sit and reminisce by reading through old cards, but anticipate that one day I will have some time to do just that and will be grateful that I have them.

Each summer our family typically goes away for 2 or 3 weeks. We travel to my in-laws' house which is 45 minutes from the beach. We enjoy some nice extended family meal time and game times, and during the day we travel to the beach as often as the weather allows. This is my husband's ideal vacation. He dreams of one day living at the beach and catching many early morning sunrises there.

This summer looks different than any other summer for us. This year, Tru is on sabbatical. Twelve whole weeks of being able to choose how to spend his time and having an open schedule. It is almost too much to bear. Truly. After moving full speed ahead with full-time work and completing his Master's degree in one year's time, the transition to nothing on the calendar was a daunting one. This freedom took some adjusting to. Not only has he been to Colorado, Yosemite National Park, on the Appalachian Trail and camping, he has spent the bulk of his time traveling back and forth between home and the beach. Somewhere along the way, he went from caged animal to finding a place where he can rest and truly find restoration and sabbath. Because of his extended break from work, this summer finds me in a unique position also. On more than one occasion, I have been home alone. The kids and hubby have packed up and taken off for the beach without me. (Not to worry, I am still getting a couple of weeks in myself this summer). Wow...quiet...peace...freedom to choose what I want to do. It is a bizarre thing. It is a good thing. It is a long overdue thing. It helps me better understand on a small scale what Tru felt toward the beginning of his sabbatical.

Today was departure day for the guys. When I came home from work, I found these lovely things:



a note from the hubby





a card...or two...from the 15-year old who is direct and to the point




an unexpected note on a napkin which I didn't discover until using the other side of it (oops!)


and another note attached to the bookmark of the current novel I'm reading where the 11-year old reminds me of the loving argument we have about who loves each other "more" (the small word you probably cannot make out)

I feel blessed. I feel loved. I feel as if our boys will learn to treasure their wives and show her signs of their love and appreciation. I feel as if my husband is doing a good job of modeling romanticism for our boys.