A new way to look at our marriage

Our missionary training has involved a lot of self examination tests. From the MMPI, Firo-B to other less known ones.
The results: Ben-ISFJ Mari-ENTP this is what that means:
Ben is an Introvert and I am an Extrovert,
Ben is a Sensor-likes to focus on the here and now, detailed oriented, I am Intuitive-Big picture person & focus on the the future possibilites
Ben is a Feeler- I am a Thinker
Ben is a Judger-prefers organization and things settled and I am a Perciever- is spontaneous and likes to keep my options open

As you can see we are totally opposite, but oddly enough we have managed just fine for the last 5 yrs. of our marriage. Before, Ben went to work and did his thing and I stayed home and did my thing. Our decisions on our children and marriage were team decisions but the rest was separate. Now as we are heading to the mission field our roles are intermingled and we are having to figure out how to work together as a team in all areas. That has been challenging, as you can see from above, we take totally different approaches on everything. Thanks to God we have had the wise counsel of many professionals here who have given us suggestions and input in helping discover ourselves and our new roles as a team. One thing they keep telling us is that our different approaches to life doesn't make one right or wrong.
It really is neat to see how God has gifted us so differently but how there is power behind that when we are working as one. I am excited about our future and being able to minister together more closely as a family.

Girls Just Want to Have Fun!

The inevitable has begun, the good byes, the good bye parties, the last get togethers, the partings..... We like to go out in style! Everyone dresses like this here in Cowtown!

Some of my good girlfriends put together a sweet get away for me at the posh Renaissnace Hotel in Sundance Square. Our evening began by enjoying our luxurious room (we had a beautiful view of downtown Fort Worth from our room) and then we headed to a fun upbeat restaraunt with a band, 8.0's.
The evening was cool and the music was delightful but most importantly the friends I was sharing it with was what made all the difference. We were carefree moms for one night with no schedule, no agenda, no responsibilities just wanting to enjoy the moment. We couldn'decide if we should stay out and enjoy the fun nite life in downtown Fort Worth or head back to our room. We decided since we were paying an arm and a leg for the room that we should enjoy it as much as possible. So we took some dessert back to our rooms and stayed up until 2a.m. being silly. They made me a sweet gift. It's a Photo book called the ABC's of Mari and each letter of the Alphabet said something sweet about me.
The next morning we headed to Le Madeline for brunch and then off to get a much needed pedicure. Ahhhhh, how sweet it is to be pampered and loved.

Facebook, keeping us connected

The other day me and a friend were on facebook at the same time. She read on my status that I wanted a chocolate icecream. Well, we chatted online and she said "I wish I would of enjoyed that icecream with you." I replied "My day was crazy never got a minute to get it" Well, next thing you know we were making plans to meet at Sonic and get our icecream. I told Ben and he said, cool. So I was out the door. As I was driving I realized that Sonic at 10p.m. could potentially be unsafe. So I get there and little did I know it was the place to be at night. Families all dressed up were there, couples were there and teenagers. So we had little to worry about. As we sat out there I thought I haven't done this since college. I felt a little weird being a 32yr old woman, married with children getting away at night for icecream but it was definitely fun. I realized the next morning the reason I don't stay up late. I must be getting old.

Flying with Children

Flying with babies and children can be very overwhelming. If your anything like me your biggest fear is that your child will have an emotional meltdown 5 min into your 2.5hr flight. So you pretty much do whatever and I mean whatever it takes to keep the peace. Most children pick up on this pretty quickly. So in the matter of 2.5 hrs your child may have sucked on 15 suckers, eaten 10 cookies and had a soda all in the name of keeping sane.

Toddlers and babies are another story. You pray that they are overwhelming tired and take a 2hr nap. Or you succumb to accidentally sticking in their mouth a syringe with night time Benadryl.(i have never done that) You can still bribe your toddler with candy and coke but your baby nooo they won't have any of that. They will just cry when ever they want to and however loud they want and for however long they want to even after you give them a cookie(they don't understand the terms of bribery).

I found myself trying to put Aiden to sleep and him tossing, turning and crying b/c he couldn't get comfortable. So after he finally dozes off in this very strange position, I am relieved. But there was a problem -his body was positioned very oddly and I was losing all feeling in my right arm. Because I am a sacrificing mom and I also didn't want to face the wrath of a tired baby being awakened and the stares and mumbling of what a bad mom I am from those around me-I didn't move a single muscle.
Did I mention that we had a 8hr flight (including layover) and got in at midnite. Yea, that was fun! So now we are happily at the beach with family!

Brothers

When Aiden was in my womb, I worried because he was soooo active. Constantly, moving which wasn't normal for me because my first born Ethan rarely moved. I would have to lay in bed and drink juice to make sure he was doing okay in there. So from the beginning I knew he was going to be different from his brother, and so he is.

He started talking at 13mos. saying Hello, Doggy. and Thank you, and bye, bye.
He is now walking with help. He throws tantrums, lots of them. He's very cuddly (Ethan was also), he is very stubborn and he loves to copy his brother. Ethan was the totally opposite of the above.

It has been so sweet to watch Ethan and Aiden interact. I will catch Ethan sometimes just sitting there with a smile on his face as he watches his little brother play. To hear Aiden sing is very sweet but to hear both of them sing is heart warming. And my favorite is to hear both of them laugh from the heart. These outburst of laughter. I love my boys! I hope they grow up to be best friends.