As I'm gettin' older...

I was talking to an old friend the other day and he said, "you just need to tell your husband that you need a break, you should get a sitter and go out." You might ask what prompted his comment, but it wasn't me complaining or venting, it was him, wondering why every Friday or Saturday night he has called, that I'm washing dishes or playing barbies. When I told him I didn't have a sitter for those kinds of things, he suggested my husband watch the kiddos so I could 'get a break'. After we hung up though, I realized I didn't want a night away from my husband and kids and I started to wonder if something was wrong.

But I think things are just changing. My husband and I have grown SO much over the last ten years, and now we both like to just hang out at home, or go out together. Now I'm not saying I don't like to have girl time now and again, but I think of those moments as the icing on my life, not the filling. I don't need to 'get away'. I like private time, but I get that a lot since my husband works nights.

And the more I think about it, when I look at my kids, who have seemed to grow so quickly in the last few months, both physically and mentally, I don't know that I want to be looking for ways to get away from them. I mean, they are at school all day.

Time is just flying by these days, and now that I'm in YL, I see just how important hanging with my family really is. I see these kids, freshman (that honestly look like babies!!), just out of middle school talking about hating life, being proud of wanting to go to hell, 'gettin' with the ladies', etc. and I just know I only have a short time left with my kids. I'm not saying it's the parents fault entirely, but I know that it's my responsibility to raise my kids in the way they should go, and I don't want to have any (or at least very many) regrets.

And being with my husband the little time I am (he works A LOT) makes us stronger. We went to the movies this weekend with the kids, and we found ourselves smooching like teenagers (ok, maybe not like teenagers, maybe more the PG version-HA!) and this morning when he got home from work he pulled me close and I asked him why we were so happy, and he said what my daughter says when you ask her why she's so beautiful, "God made it that way."

So, for now, I'm more than content not going out and 'living it up' by myself. I honestly think I'm too old for that anymore anyway. :)

Oh, and here's a pic from my husband's surprise party last weekend...
Verse to Ponder: Proverbs 15:30 (NIV) A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.