I think I mentioned that I've been reading Dr. Laura's book, "The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands." I'm now on the section about intimacy and it has shined a lot of light on my sweetheart's behaviors. Basically what it's saying is: For men being intimate is the way they connect and stay close to their wives.
An older woman once told me, "A man will put up with an awful lot if things are working in the bedroom."
Not that I want my husband to have to put up with a lot, but there are always struggles in a marriage and if my honey is feeling satisfied in an area that is extremely important to him, he will take care of me in all other areas.
I often am exhausted at night and the only thing that sounds good about my bed is sleep. But let's face it, if one of my babies cried out I'd be running for them. I'm trying to remember that my sweetie is the reason I have those beautiful boys. When I'm tired I try to stop being selfish and put the man I love first in my life, if only for twenty minutes.

Sorry I haven't posted for a while. We've been crazy busy. My in-laws returned last week from an eighteen-month service mission to Myanmar. If you've never heard of it, don't feel bad, I had to look it up after they got their call.

We're so glad to have them home. They got off the airplane and hugged and kissed and marvelled over the kiddos, then they started telling us about the people they'd left. Such sad stories. The majority of the people don't make enough money to even feed their families. They have no opportunity to better their situation. The government rules everything and the people live in fear of being thrown in prison for the slightest infraction.

I don't think as an American I can even comprehend such things. My biggest struggles are spending enough quality time with my kids and trying not to eat too much!
We're so blessed. I've been struggling to know what I can do to help. My mother-in-law said we can donate more to our church's humanitarian fund. So we've increased our donations there and praying for those who are oppressed and above all counting our blessings that we are free, happy and surrounded by people we love.

We're slowly recovering. What a horrible bug. It's hard not to get depressed when no one feels good and you can't leave the house. The best way for me to counteract depression is to serve someone else, impossible to do when you're sick. What do you do? Take a loaf of homemade bread to your neighbor and they'd hopefully throw it in the trash before they caught whatever you have.

My boys and I visit a lady named Ruby. She's amazing. She's eighty-seven, has a great attitude and is so fun to talk to. Plus she loves my kids. One of the many perks of visiting the elderly is most of them adore children. If someone compliments my children, they're my friend for life.

The other day we were leaving Ruby's house, when her eyes filled with tears. She squeezed my hand and said, "Thanks for coming. No one else cares about me."

I choked up. "Oh, Ruby. That's not true. They're just so busy."

Please don't be too busy. I know life is nuts, but you have to find time to love and serve others. Even people who seem happy and busy themselves are thrilled to have someone come visit. Turn off the television and go make somebody's day. You can bring a treat or just your happy body and it will make you feel great.

I need to vent.

My husband is on a guy's trip snowmobiling. My eight-year old has strep. My baby has an ear infection and my four-year old is running a fever. Help. I'm worn out.

So what do I do? I waste my time posting messages on the internet and eating Russell's ice cream. Extreme Mousse Tracks is the best anti-depressant I own.

So tomorrow all the rules about no Nintendo or television go out the window. We're going to veg all day, eat nothing but ice cream and popsicles to soothe our throats and watch Open Season, Ice Age and Madagascar until I scream for some adult interaction.

Hope you all have a great Sunday and stay healthy.

I hope you're having a great day. Valentine's Day changes when you're a mom, doesn't it? Now I've got class parties and sugar cookies to bake for the boys and then if I'm lucky after they're all asleep I'll have some time for my honey. Not quite the same as the romantic days we had before kiddos, but I love it.

I've been reading Dr. Laura's book, "The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands." If you haven't read it, you should. It's great. I'm not very far into it, but the basic premise so far is men need: food, sex, and someone to take care of the house/children. They are simple, aren't they? But it's funny how hard it is to give my husband the attention he deserves when I'm exhausted.

Here are some thoughts on what romance is to me:
- My husband working hard to provide for us and supporting me staying at home and writing.
- My honey changing the baby's diaper.
- Him getting up with the baby at night without me even asking.
- Watching him wrestle with our boys.
- Having him tell me that I'm beautiful after I've had a baby and my stomach resembles a water balloon instead of a sixpack.
- Knowing that he loves me even when I am too exhausted to love him back.

I hope you all have someone who loves you and you appreciate them.
Happy Valentine's Day!