The Adventures of George

As I sit here about to write this I wonder if he planned it. Was he waiting, planning, building up? Was he fattening up knowing he would have to survive on no food for who knew how long? How does his mind work?

This morning I woke my kids up like normal. They all did great - got up easily - mainly because they are all looking forward to their valentine parties at school (do you remember those days?). Anyway, I get them going and then hop in the shower. Next thing I hear is a knock on the door - my eldest coming to tell me the newest member - the baby of our family - George- is missing. Missing? How can he be missing, I ask? How can he get out? He was there last night - your dad was the one that fed him and checked on him - Yep, gone. The search began. We are looking for a needle in a haystack. One frog the size of my big toe in a house the size of ours - it's not huge, but it has many pitfalls for a small frog. So, we began in the kids rooms - keep in mind, he had to make it out of the water, through a small hole, off the dresser almost five feet up, and then off into whatever adventure he was seeking. We moved boxes, pillows, covers, jewelry, shoes, dolls, dressers, looked in the kitchen - down the hall, bathroom, my bedroom - but really didn't think he made it out of the girls' room.

I called my husband at work. I had to ask the worst question as I looked at our dog - Could he (my dog) have eaten George? My husband didn't think so, but then the dog has been known to eat cat poop so who knows. My husband, like me, didn't think there was a real chance George had made it out of the girls' room- so we decided to shut the door til that afternoon - we knew he was probably already dried up - it had been 8 hours since he was last seen after all and he requires water. Well, Little Man took this like we had shut the lid on the coffin. It was not a good scene. But we had been searching 30 min - four people - no George. So, we ate breakfast, finished getting dressed, and I prayed. I pleaded with God - "Please let us find George - preferably alive, but if he is dead, please still let him be found." I turn around and there he is. ALIVE!! Coming out from under my husband's dresser! Again - God was waiting on me. When will I ask? When will I depend on him for EVERYTHING? Even the George moments in my life. (Just like those South Beach moments in my life.)

It took teamwork, but my brave children were able to corral him and I held the container while they put him back in - I placed pantyhose over the top until we can fix him up a better aquarium this weekend. We will never know what all George experienced or encountered - or even if he is happy to be back in his habitat, but I know that George is a reminder that God is listening - to the tears of children, the cries of parents' hearts, and the purity of the request.

Thank you again, God.

My Husband

I don't say enough about my wonderful husband. I want to now.

My husband is someone I very much look up to, that I am proud to say is mine - the spiritual leader in our home and such a sweet love to me. He would probably hate being described that way but it is true. He is not only those things but he is also a man- He works hard, protects his family at any cost, and always puts us first after God. I sometimes think he is too harsh, but that is the complement of a man and a woman. God made the man to be firm and tough and the woman to be soft and nurturing. Why do I try and get in the way of that? I love that my husband will not only fix whatever is broken around our house, but also willingly do the laundry. That is true love. When I am feeling less than perfect, he reminds me I am perfection to him. I roll my eyes on the outside, but inside my heart squeezes in thankfulness to God for giving me such a wonderful, perfect, complement to me and my personality.

He would be the second to tell you (I would be the first) that our relationship/marriage has not been a bed of lovely roses, but trials, tribulations, hard times, and much love. WOW! God has grown us so much and kept us together through so much. In doing so He has strengthened us individually and as a couple in our relationship with Him and each other.

So, just to let you know - my husband is perfection to me and I love him.