How I spent last week-end~

Being married to a Fire Truck Salesman can be an exciting life....

I get to hang out a truck shows!

Last week-end was the biggest truck show/festival in Michigan.

The annual Michigan Fireman's Memorial Festival in Roscommon.

I have gone in the past but last year I stayed home...it's just really complicated with kids!

But this year, I joyfully excepted the invitation to hang out with Steve for 4 days!!! 

We displayed the newly delivered City of Manton Fire Truck this year.  

This is how it looked in the parade....

The side shot and table 

A view of the crowd after the parade on Saturday...for some reason everyone brings their dogs??....not sure why that is... firefighters must love their dogs!! 

BTW...Steve sells for a Michigan Made company located in South Haven MI...Spencer Mfg.

My reward for attending the show and being a good girl! 

It's a lot of waiting for me and sitting in a lawn chair.  

But I don't have to cook or clean...so I'm good with that! We had dinner with one of the owners (and his wife, Joan) of Spartan Motors in Charlotte...and we went to their cottage on the 2nd night. On the other night we went to dinner with a Chief  that Steve has been working with! 

**SUPER, MEGA, HUGE, BIG KUDOS....to both the Grandpa and Grandma's for helping us with the boys...we so appreciate it..THANKS!!!**

21 years and counting....

21 years ago today we said our 'I do's' to each other.

I can proudly say 'we have!' *We have loved in good and bad *We have been rich & poor *We have had sickness (very little) and healthy (a lot)

*We have become best friends *We have put God first *We have been a team raising our 3 boys *We have endured *We have defied the odds *We have not given in *We have said 'I'm sorry!' *We have grown together *WE...have found true LOVE!



May we have many many more WE HAVE'S!

Trial Run Over.....

The last three Sunday's Steve has gone with me shopping, as posted earlier. It has proved to be a very enjoyable time! He has passed the test...with flying colors, no less! He has moved up to pushing the cart ranks!

I normally don't brag or use this blogging place to share about my relationships...but sometimes you just have to! I am realizing what an awesome man I married. He has been amazing. When we spend time together lately we have soooo much fun together! It has not always been this way. Now, don't get me wrong....we have always had a great relationship. It just seems as though it's a great relationship turned greater! More Awesome! More Heavenly!

When we get to our stop...Steve jumps out and runs around to open the door for me. Which has proven to be a difficult wait for me...I want to just jump out. Funny & sweet side note.....last week we took Trent to a Soccer meeting and Steve ran around to open my door. Trent asked Steve "why are you doing that?" Steve replied...'cause I lover her! (AWWW!) The best part, was when we got home, Trent quickly jumped out and opened the door before Steve could get over there! Steve just gave him a smile!

This week, while we were shopping at Meijers. We had another AWWWW moment! Steve snuck away from me and purchased some flowers and ran them out to the car. When we got out to the car, they were there waiting on my seat...I know...AWWWW! I had no idea he was gone that long!

Along with all that, he is emptying the dishwasher, making me breakfast and rapidly working down his honey-do list! What did I do to deserve all this? Am I a princess? Pinch me, I must be dreaming!

The real rewards we are seeing is a attitude change in our boys. They seem to have a spirit of helpfulness. It seems as though....if Dad is doing it, I want to do it first. It's a race to do it before Steve can.

Another side note...The flowers Steve bought were a 'spring' bouquet. Some of you know my Alma Mater, Schoolcraft, competed in the Boys Basketball finals on Saturday. We went with Dad and Linda to the Breslin Center to see them play..unfortunately they lost....=(. Hang with me...there is a point! I think the flowers were actually a 'condolence' bouquet, as they were purple and yellow, my school colors!

Okay, back to my point.....I know I am not a professional writer or even a good amateur blogger but I hope I conveyed my thoughts today. In a world where men are thought of as idiots, belittled and just generally worthless. I wanted to express my appreciation to Steve for all his love and more! He is a wonderful man and I look forward to growing old with him!

I hope this post doesn't nausea any of you! Troy just came in the room and started reading what I was writing and said..Mom delete that...no one cares about you and dad's relationship. I'm hoping that isn't true....I'm thinking he's just 13!

Trial Run....

I would have expected this post from a newly married couple...but not 'seasoned' married couples like us! We have been married almost 21 years...Wow..that's quite an accomplishment. But this is not about how long we have been married....It's not our Anniversary....We aren't taking a 2nd honeymoon..(are we?)

It's about something I learned long ago...You don't let your husband go shopping with you!!...end of post!!! But yesterday was a rare day for Steve and Joanne...we ventured out to go shopping together. Now, this wasn't one of those quick in-quick out after a dinner shopping jaunts. You know the ones...you go to Walmart after a dinner to get one or two things. No, this was full fledged shopping. Like stop here-stop there kinda shopping.

It has always been customary for Steve to stay home with the kids while I shop. It's much more pleasant for, lets see....me, Steve, kids, other shoppers....just about everyone involved! So in Steve's defense, he has always been his duty to stay home.

He sprung the question on me as I was looking through the ads..."can I go with you?" Thoughts raced thought my head...do I want him to go? Will he hurry me? Will he leave me at the store? Will he tell me not to buy things? Will we get upset with me? Will I get upset with him? I said..."we will see." As I spoke those words, I thought, shouldn't I let him go with me? He promised to be different..not the "newly married" Steve that I once knew. I let him go only on a trial basis.

To my surprise...we had a great time. We headed out with lists & coupons in hand. We made 7 stops and not once did Steve complain..that's right..not once...and one of those was even Michael's! Not many men can say that about themselves...that right there is quite an accomplishment!

He even opened the car door for me at every stop....which is not something I or he is accustom to. He then wanted to push the shopping cart..I have my limits. I did let him try it out a couple of times though.

Our biggest treat was sharing a piece of pizza at Sam's Club. I also taught him an invaluable lesson...bargain shopping! First...is never buy anything that isn't on sale. Second...try to use a coupon. Third..stop at the store that has it for cheapest sale.

It was a great sale week at Meijers, it's was their 10 for $10 and get one free sale. For ever 10 items you buy you get one free. It's then 90¢....I then pulled out the 75¢ off coupons. This is when Steve started to get impressed. Even I was impressed! I have to admit here...I even purchased somethings I truly didn't need, just to use my coupon. Hey, it was only 50¢!

Now, I know I have made Steve out to look like a bad husband....he's far from that. We all have things that we have learned early on in our marriage...this is one of them! It seemed to work for us...it wasn't a bad thing that he didn't go get groceries with me. So let me just lift Steve up for a moment...he is a great husband and I wouldn't change our life for anything!

The lesson here.....We all have the ability to change...we are not stuck in the "that's just how I am mold!" We can change what WE want too! It's definitely easier to stay where you are, usually less painful. It's hard to change there is no doubt..change is difficult. My challenge to myself & you..look for something you want to change...big or little...make strides to change it..today!!