Dysfunctionally Functional in Dysfunctioning

Ok, if you've been reading my ranting for, what, almost 4 months now, and you're super turned off just about every 4th post, then I have something that is toned way, way down for you with a hope that you will patch some things up and seize life.

Every single one of us is dysfunctional. Lord love a duck, I thought it was just me- it's great to know you are all screwed up too. MetroLIVE ended on Thursday with Curtis closing out a serious on relationships. For all of you shortcut lovers, here is Curtis' podcast from Thursday. If you have the time, listen to the others too, but I especially encourage this one. That's a lie. I especially encourage the one dated 7.23.09. It will break you down. But, for the purpose of this post, check out the one from 8.6.09...annnnnnd then the rest of them.

Can it be simpler? Common sense if you think about it, but we don't think about it. If you treat any relationship (husband, wife, daughter, son, mom, dad, sibling, friend, co-worker, God) with anger, bitterness, a sense of wanting things to go wrong for them because of your insecurity/jealousy/envy/ or God forbid selfishness, those relationships will fall apart. But if you pour love, kindness, and most importantly forgiveness into them, regardless of how badly they hurt you or how "terrible" your life is, the relationship will sustain.

Look, we have all been hurt by someone. We have all felt like someone has wronged us. Even worse, a lot of you feel like God has wronged you. That He owes you something. Some tough love: God doesn't owe you anything. But, know that you aren't alone with those feelings, that things like this will happen in every relationship you create, and we have a choice about how we handle it. It must be exhausting to live a life full of anger and bitterness. Dig deep. Forgive. Over and over. Let it go. and love...you'll be sorry if you don't.

Correction

Correction: In this post, regarding the statement, "...this should've-been-born-blonde..."

My mother has informed me that I was in fact born blonde.
This explains so much.

Unshakable Sense of Self

I read this article back in 2006 when it came out, and I have kept it ever since. Ironically, I married a cyclist as well, but I'm not implying anything. To me, Kristin Armstrong's writing is profound. Perhaps that is because you can feel her "I should have done it differently" emotion in the urgency of her words. There is so much in this article that I not only want my soon-to-be-married friends to know, but that I remind myself of constantly. It hits home in a lot of places; a lot of the advice she gives parallels to things Devin has to remind me to do. It reminds me of things that I am quick to forget, but that are so substantial in a balanced married life. I don't agree with everything she says, because the Bible calls us to love and interact in sacrificial ways in marriage. And maybe Kristin did that, but maybe she did it to the extreme, which I catch myself doing. The principle...the bottom line of not losing you...the advice about saying what you think and not giving up the things that you love that make you you...it is all advice that needs to be given to a new bride. But, like she says, we're all so quick to throw the showers and give the gifts and send the newlyweds on their way, but we never sit them down and tell them how it will be and how to keep their personal identity in the role of a wife...a wife with a unique and unshakable sense of self.

A Tuesday Ride.

Last night I planned a fun and out of the ordinary dinner for us. We have been married 4 months. 4 months seems silly to celebrate, but I had reasons for it to mean something more to me, so I wanted to celebrate by doing what Devin loves to do.

We rode our bikes about 5 miles out to Eleanor Tinsley Park. It ended up not being Eleanor Tinsley Park, or something...basically, we didn't know which park we were at- totally not my intention.
It was beautiful; great weather, great view, perfect company.
There wasn't a single soul out there but us.

Modes of transportation

The food and drink

The view…

Our dinner guests

And then we got kicked out of the park. We moved to a new spot down the road a ways. We sat down and saw our view, and we weren’t even mad about getting kicked out anymore.

Then we rode the 5 miles home. Yes, in the dark, mom. Devin takes care of me, don’t worry. For the most part, it was a really pleasant evening. I always like to ride with Devin- I know he loves it, even though I don’t go nearly as fast as he would probably like to. But, I love to be included in something he loves, and I love the look he gets when I say, “I have a surprise; get your bike”.

So, despite me not knowing exactly where the park was, or not thinking to check the park hours, or other things that I did to put a damper on it, I hope it was as fun for you as it was for me.

Super Devin...The Tale of the Hero Husband

Warning...this may get mushy. Don't say I didn't warn you. If you can't handle it, just don't read it...it's that easy!

I don't really like to do the weekend update thing. I don't like everyone to know every little thing, and I don't think people care to read "First we went to the mall, then to the movie, then this, then that, then we ate this this and this, then we sat and stared at each other, then Devin left so I stared at the wall". When I read that sort of recap on other blogs, I'm bored out of my mind. But, this weekend-themed post has a different purpose. If you'd be so kind, please let me tell you how awesome, hard working, giving, smart, talented, wife-loving, and patient Devin is. I am pretty sure most everything he did this weekend was for me, and I'm not quite sure he got to do anything he wanted the entire weekend, except watch TV on Sunday...which he didn't really want to do. Oh good grief, I started crying when I wrote that. What is with my emotions lately? Don't get any ideas. This may even be too mushy for me. I'm really sort of sad that I have ZERO pictures to show you with this post, but the iPhone just wasn't handy...and then it took a dive and broke on Saturday, but we'll get to that in a second...

On Friday night, Devin and I volunteered for the Knuckleball. This is a black tie event that the hospital I work for hosts for the Joe Niekro foundation. Devin left work early, after a very hectic week, to get dressed up and tote me to the event. We worked registration for the guests where we gave them their bidding paddle and casino money, then we were live auction spotters (they had items like a signed Nolan Ryan painting, a trip to Cancun for 10 days, a cigar humidor from the president), then silent auction item deliverers (silent auction items were much better- signed Cal Ripken jersey, hall of famers signed baseball..), and we really didn't get to eat at all which is miserable for the husband of mine who has the metabolism of a kangaroo (first off, I don't know what their metabolism is like, but it worked. Secondly, I think it's Eric or Dan that says Devin is a kangaroo? So...it fits). I know he had a million other things he could have done on Friday night, and I am so thankful that he came. We ended up sitting with Mr. Bertrand, the most famous pharmacist you'll ever meet, and his family (Rebeeb and Shanna were there!) listening to Mr. B talk about Devin when he was a baby. He told me that I married a good guy, which I already knew.

Mr. Bertrand and Devin...and Collin Raye in the background.
Shout out to Rebeeb for her excellent cellular photography

Saturday morning, Devin had to get up and go DO WORK! He got home just in time (8:30am) to go work on Lifehouse. I was so happy he came, because I knew he would be able to use his scary-smart brain and man-power talent somehow. They ended up needing some guys to rip up some tile in the bathrooms, and he was an expert. I was so so proud of him, and if he hadn't come, it would have taken twice as long to work on the house. I was put in the garage to organize it, which was fun for me. It's always more fun to organize someone else's house, right? Apartments are so much harder to organize...not that I'm making excuses or anything...WE HAVE 6 BIKES! Sorry...that escalated quickly.

Saturday, this should've-been-born-blonde dropped her iPhone on the kitchen floor and the power button was stuck. After a trip to AT&T and the Apple store, I had to get a new phone, and even though I felt terrible...absolutely horrifically terrible, Devin told me a million times that it was no big deal and that I needed a phone and that I must be crazy if I thought he would let me run around Houston without one. I am so blessed. I think he's excited that my new phone can take video now, and I can show him the crazies I see on the train instead of trying to describe the insanity. Then, Saturday night, I started getting a migraine, but we still needed to go to the grocery store if we wanted to achieve the Sunday-do-nothing-day. I went to bed, and he went to the store alone...he doesn't care much for the store. Again, I felt so so awful, and he was happy to do it.

Sunday funday came and we tried a new Bible study and new church service. We really enjoyed it and I loved hearing herzbin chime in with the new group of people about prayer and what we think prayer should and shouldn't be. We came home and had planned to go to the lake house, but it didn't work out, and I was so disappointed for him. We watched a lot of movies on TV, rested, and played all day, but I know he had other things he would have preferred to do.

While I'm talking about things he would rather do, I want to re-emphasize our need for your prayers. We talked in Bible study yesterday about how God tells us we can pray for ANYTHING big or small...and we still need prayers for Devin's bike fit issue. We have gotten to the point where riding isn't even enticing because it is potentially miserable. Please pray for his knees, his legs, his fit. I want him to want to ride again because not only is he phenomenal at it, but he absolutely loves it.

Don't worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.
Phil 4:6 NLT

Who do you know that would volunteer for TWO causes in a weekend while multi-tasking with his "real" job? Who do you know who would buy this doofus a new and very expensive phone when she just broke the other one? Who would be patient enough to deal with yet another night full of attitude from a migraine-suffering wife? Who would just offer to go to the grocery store because he knows I am in pain? Who would settle for a Sunday with me instead of a bike ride with friends or wake boarding, and then forgive me when I snapped at him this morning when the alarm went off? He is my hero and not only do I love him completely, but I appreciate him deeply. I thank God every single day for giving me someone I do not deserve one single bit.