I love my Valentine!

Last Saturday I fell in love with my husband again.

Eric and I were asked to teach at the Marriage Encounter at our church. It's basically a marriage seminar where someone teaches on a topic (for example, forgiveness) and then they do ministry (lead the couples through a time of repenting and then forgiving eachother). I taught on communication, which is such an awesome topic. I chose it because God has been speaking to me so much on the power of MY words towards my husband, no matter how I feel or what he does/doesn't do.

Eric didn't choose his topic...I did. I came home one night and said, "Oh, I told the Pastors you're teaching on romance." I don't remember what happened after that, but somehow the joke never got worked out that it was indeed that, a joke. So, Eric told Pastor Scott that that was what he was going to teach on.

The name of his lesson was, "Keeping the Flame of Romantic Love Alive." He did such an amazing job. The first surprising part was how HILARIOUS he was. For those of you that don't know Eric, he is a man of few words. He doesn't talk a lot, he's not loud and obnoxious (like his wife...haha). One of the things he said was, "For those of you that know my wife you know that she talks about three times as much as me..." Yes, very true! But, he was on a roll with this joke thing. It was a side that none of us, me included, had ever seen.

A few examples of things he said, "For you women you need to dress to impress your husband. Not just when you're going out somewhere or going to church, but even if it's just you and your husband. My wife, when she gets home she likes to put on 'comfy clothes.' She'll put on some lounge pants and one of my big, long sleeve tshirts. But, when she's not pregnant....no visitors." I was like, what!?!? haha

My section was right before Eric's and I told this joke about a pastor that would greet his wife every morning saying "Good morning, little fat one." A missionary was staying at his house and rebuked him and told him to say, "Good morning, perfect one." So, when it was Eric's turn he said, "I don't call my wife 'little fat one,' she reallly is pregnant." Everyone was seriously laughing hysterically!

My favorite part was when Eric started to get choked up. Just like he's a man of few words, he doesn't cry often (also unlike his wife). So, he started talking about me and he had to stop because he started crying. He said, "I'm so proud of my wife. She loves her disciples and she really has found her place in ministry." And then later he choked up when saying, "I love my wife.I just want her to feel loved." (I can't remember all that he had said, I wish I would have written this earlier. I know it was filled with love and emotion, though. And, that's what really mattered to me!)

While Eric was teaching it was like I got this window inside his heart. His guard was down and he was, seriously, just flowing in the Holy Spirit and I got to see his emotions and feelings, which haven't always been as apparent (but they are now!). I'm just so proud of Eric and I love him so much!!

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Happy Valentine's Day! We didn't celebrate tonight/today, but my mother and father in law offered to let the kids stay at their house all weekend. Yay!!! I'm so excited, I don't know what to do with myself. We've never been away from the kids other than for conferences, encounters, etc... I can't wait to sleep in on Saturday! Thank you so much Robb and Ellie. We love you guys so much!!!