Sensationally Six

Sensationally Six...well, actually today is 36, yep, unbelievable right? MiRV and I are celebrating 36 years of marriage today. Seems impossible but yet here we are. Doing life together, weathering the ups and downs and all arounds and the best part we still enjoy doing life together. And, yes, we do do life together, we are together more than apart. And honestly, I do observe others. I see many who just never seem to be with their spouse no matter where I see them. I mean how does that actually work? We do things together daily, we o things together apart, too, but more often then not you will find us together. Now don't get me wrong, some days the road we travel is bumpy and maybe I'd prefer to be a part, LOL, but for the most part it's been a mostly smooth ride and being together is good, very good. And it's not always easy! I've said it before and I'll say it again marriage is NOT for the faint of heart. It's darn hardwork, H.A.R.D.W.O.R.K. but oh so worth it if you can figure it out. We've had such a blessed life for sure!

The day. it officially started!

This would be the result of our 36 years... so very blessed.

In the last 36 years we've made our home in 15 houses and two RVs...we aren't finished yet. In fact, if MiRV has his way we might be sailing into the sunset someday, literally. 

At Big Ben in 2019

Being silly for the Bee's sake, she's a unicorn lover 2017, maybe.

It was really hard to find pics of just the two of us for this post. I think I must need to snap a few more as that's just not right. Plenty of us and a certain little girl though and some group shots but I had a really hard time finding pics of just the two of us. And there were no real big plans for today. We are going to the City tomorrow so may have some cake...today's splurge may of may not have included a cinnamon roll and yesterday we kicked off this palooza at the Grill. Lord help us by Friday!

Hopefully, soon, for MiRVs sake we will take off in ROADA and call it an anniversary trip. However, with the price of gas I'm having a hard time with that notion.  No matter you'll find us overhere hanging out together! Happy Anniversary to us!

UnFOURgettably 4 Friday!

Soooo...one could say 2020 has been mighty different. I would totally not disagree with that assessment. I would say for us it has been quite a change. Practically no travel. Not even North to see daughter. We have just been homebodies. Our grocery budget has gone over every month since March. Our eating out, entertainment and fuel budgets have been under. Trade offs I guess. 

Another change, more so for me, has been increased physical activity. In the week after Christmas MiRV and I started up walking again. It was going well, we would head to the local community center for indoor lap walking just about every week day. We did 2-3 miles a visit. I just wanted to increase our physical activity. I was also hoping to reduce the snugness of my jeans after all the holiday treats. We were pretty dedicated to our daily walks. Then, BAM, covid hit. Community center closed! I took on some home exercising with the help of our $50 treadmill find. I also started adding in some strength training, a few videos of yoga or low impact aerobics thanks to MiRV and his YouTube ability. Then we happened upon a home gym setup type thing at the surplus store. What a find and for only $10. It came with everything but the weights! And we found some of those that would work; so we were in business. This has been a game changer for the whole strength training thing. I'm incredibly amazed. We also have an old style spin bike that MiRV uses. We have grown a home gym!

Putting the "gym" together...

This is us in action...albeit not great shots. They are from our security camera and it's the best I've got!

I am happy to be able to see looser fitting clothing AND a decrease in the scale number was an even nicer benefit as well. I'm down double digits on that stinking scale! More interestingly I'm seeing some muscle definition. That in itself is pretty neat, too. I'm pleased with our new found gym equipment and at a minimal investment. What a bonus. Though in hindsight we really should be willing to invest more in our health...hmmm. We've also been riding our Townies more. I have a little foot issue going on so my treadmill use has dropped off dramatically. I'm hoping the rest will restore it. We've also added a few more weights to our collection as well as a sit up bar. We already had a jump rope, some bands, kettle ball etc. It's a journey that has been good for me, for sure!

Stay safe, stay well and try to get some physical activity in your day!

UnFOURgettably 4 Friday!

It's been 34 years for MiRV and I. Thirty-four. That's a milestone in my book! We work hard to have what we have. We share, care and trust. It's been a wild road we've traveled but we traveled it together. We are still finding the road sometimes has blind curves, huge hills and a few dead ends. We just try to remember to stay on the road! And remember our motto, "Adapt and Overcome" it will get you through some of those tough spots.

Celebrate the small and big things. That's what we try to do. Even the everyday things. Don't take what you have for granted. Love always. Look to God for the needs you have not another person or thing. Find satisfaction within yourself and you will be a much happier being. Just my .02.

A more recent photo of us talking to our favorite Bee!

I did, did you!

I certainly hope you did your civic duty today! We did, my parents did, my niece did, my in laws did (they didn't have a choice, we took them to lunch and stopped by our polling place on the way home). Kind of a neat deal we actually voted at our designated polling place, our first time ever since we've been registered voters. Usually we vote absentee in person or with absentee  ballots via the U.S. Mail. However, since we are in town, we were able to vote in the flesh at our actual polling place. Since our polling site has recently changed we found it via the scenic route around town which was fine since the little burg we cast votes in seems to be getting a bit of revitalization; it was good to see some of the positive changes.

Go Greitens!!! It's a hot race for Governor in MO. We will be anxiously awaiting the closure of the polls and watching/listening as the returns come in for the results of all the races tonight!

Mile Marker Thirty as in 3 - 0!

Another milestone...

 St Mark's Lighthouse - Florida...March 2015

MiRV and I started our journey over thirty years ago...we met in 1982. We weren't even friends. In 1983 that changed, in 1984 we were engaged and in 1986 married. And as they say the rest is history.  So here we are and it's 30 years later since that day. Can you say W-O-W?

I won't say I didn't think this day would come but really you don't give much thought to these milestones when you are saying "I do". Of course, I firmly believe in the "until death do us part" part. And certainly we have had our ups and downs, happiness and sadness, rewards and disappointments, we have had to work through issues, we still work hard at our marriage...every day. It is ongoing; it is a choice.  Marriage is not maintenance free, there is definitely upkeep, everyday really. If you do not keep up your marriage, I can promise you it will get away from you and there could be serious suffering.

I will be the first to tell you we are not always living the dream (GASP) or the happily ever after that you might think. Some would say that we tend to present that image. I would argue that you see what you choose to see. I also think we make a conscious choice to NOT air our dirty laundry so to speak. Have we discussed, in limited talk, our marriage with others? Sure, but I think we wisely guard our words. We were given good advice early on that spewing words of anger or disappointment to others is not something you should do with others...unless of course you rented their ears (professional counseling). Therefore, there are very, VERY few people you can or should confide in who will be able to let go of what you say when things have righted in your world. That person who you shared your moment of anger with just doesn't forget what you told them and sometimes there can be tension in the aftermath. It's just not a good idea to abundantly "share" about the your marital life so be careful who you chat with when you are spun up. For certain there might be a very good friend who can handle it but I still would be cautious and hesitant to recommend it.

 MiRVs first look at our daughter - OKC...March 1991

Our greatest joy and challenge has been the birth and rearing of the Daughter. She holds our heart; she is amazing. She has blessed us with another incredible chapter in our lives as she became a mother earlier this year and gave us a granddaughter. This my friends is beyond words...we have never loved so deeply. We are in love with her and relish being BeBe and LaLa. There are just not enough words for our newest love. What an indescribable joy we are experiencing...

 Our first look at our granddaughter - NE...March 2016

It is good that our lives our enriched with additions. We are thrilled to have so many family and friends who play such a crucial role in our lives. We know it is much better living life with others and we have a wonderful groups of "others" who love and inspire us, who hold us accountable, who encourage and love on us. We are blessed no doubt. We pray that our daughter continues to grow roots in her community and finds those others to do and enjoy life with to team up with to make memories to get through the good, the bad and the ugly.

This child...

The other crucial KEY factor in reaching this mark, I believe, is our faith. I won't even be so bold as to say our "strong" faith because there were (still are) days we felt our faith waiver. We have had our moments of crisis (still do). However, if we would not have had what I call a solid foundation and relationship with Jesus I feel we could have been in trouble. He has sustained and encouraged us in hard times, sad times. He is faithful, even when we are not. We are Christ followers and know without a doubt this is an integral part of any part of our successful marriage. I would not even want to speculate where we would be without Jesus.  I am thrilled to have done life with MiRV these last 30 years and look forward to many more years together. Life is good, not easy, not perfect, not without struggles but it IS good!

 

Union Covered Bridge - Missouri back road...May 2016

#30yesreally30yearsofmarriage
#sustaininglove

Thursday thoughts - Reagan

We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone. Ronald Reagan

So that we do not become overwhelmed with all that we see around us that needs to be done this little thought can help us to remember that we can and should be doing something. 

Several weeks back MiRV was approached at the fuel pump by a Hispanic male who had a story...he quoted scripture, he was neatly dressed and clean, he had "handouts", he had an honorable cause...he was sincere. MiRV felt like we should "contribute". I was skeptical. We generously gave. Was it a scam, I think so. We pulled away from the pump and observed. There were actually two fellows, they did not approach anyone else while we were watching, in fact within 20 minutes of "scoring" our donation, they walked away from their post. From our vantage point we could not tell where they went, however, they reappeared within the hour and walked on down the street in the other direction got into their individual vehicles (very nice rides I might add) and left. Was I a little miffed, yes, I was. Did we really help? I don't know, I hope even if we didn't help the original cause he pitched that he was still in need and that he was helped in some way and that he will know that we were sincere.

OUR day....again!

Funny how our day happens every year...yep, on 5 October, oh so many years ago MiRV asked me to be his wife. We do something to mark that day every year. Sometimes it's just the simplest of things, other times it's bigger, sometimes serious, but more often than not silly or memorable in a fun way.

WooHoo today is OUR day!

 That's my guy...

We had no idea what we were in for when we committed to do life as husband and wife but we knew we wanted to to do it together. We have, we still are; it's how we roll. You see one and most likely you see the other, we lead "together" lives not separate. It's who we are.

Anywho, as we mark this day once again, I often look back at all we have been through (a lot), what we have accomplished (not much, really) and where I think we will be next year at this time (who knows!). It's a good life we live, not a piece of cake but we do  manage and we do also eat cake along the way...on the hard days especially.

Today we are gonna celebrate our "yes" day!

#Commitment
#IsaidYES

Wednesday Words - Goldsmith

Life is a journey that must be traveled no matter how bad the roads and accommodations.

Oliver Goldsmith

You can substitute lots of things for the roads and accommodations part. Pretty much it spoke to me in that you are expected to press on regardless of the circumstances kind of way or more straight forward "suck it up" and keep moving!

Wednesday Words - McLaughlin

Since it was our anniversary this week I liked these words...there is a bit of truth in there IMO as not every day am I lovable, I am not even likable. I am glad that my MiRV chooses to love me and continues to fall in love with me. This year in the RV with so many changes has not been without challenges and we have weathered them; continue to weather them. Some days have been easier then others, that's what I call keeping it real to share that...every day has not been blissful but at the end of the day I have a guy who loves me and I love him and we didn't sign up to check out, we are staying the course and making memories. We are doing life one day at a time!

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.

Mignon McLaughlin

#marriageisnotforsissies

Happy HEART Day!

It's not a huge deal in our world, we LOVE each other EVERY day!!! However, we did enjoy lunch and have ice cream to have a special treat for the occasion and, this is a BIG and...we actually did it yesterday since I don't much like crowds and didn't want to be in the hubbub of all the other love celebrators!

So there you have it, we've already Valentined!

Shrimp! 

 Shrimp, shrimp and more shrimp!

Started with the Sweets and then moved on to the Rock shrimp for the main course. They were ALL very delightful!

 Then there was lemon sorbet to end it!

And a bonus was the gorgeous view of the moon late in the afternoon...

 We got this view instead of a sunset because we went out to DQ for ICE CREAM!!! It was so yum! Strawberry malt for me and chocolate shake for MiRV!

Whatever your lot in life on this day just know that someone, somewhere does love you! His name is Jesus! Jesus loves us best and we can love better by knowing His love. Valentine's day isn't for everyone and I don't subscribe to all the over-commercialization of it but I don't mind sharing special time with those we do love most. It's always good to be reminded that we need to make sure we let those we love know it...today is that day for some.

Day 5 - YES day

Good morning! It's OUR day...we have started with coffee in bed (uh, well, that's pretty normal for us) and now we are preparing to go hang out this morning and do a few errands before making it back to catch some college football! There may be a stop at Starbuck's in there thanks to a gift card we were given :) No matter, it's gonna be a fun day!

 US at Mr&Mrs Bud's wedding :)

Oh so you are wondering what is OUR day? It's THE day waaaay back in 1984, yep, we were 80s teens, that I said Y.E.S after MiRV asked me to marry him! We have always celebrated this day in some form or fashion! Let me direct you to last year's post if you want to read more. And as for me, I went and took a look back through my blog postings on my other blog, Adventures in Blue, and it seems I have made mention of this day every year since I started blogging...so you know, it's a sort of big day in our world and we like to remember it!

As I went back and reread all my 5 October posts I think this one is probably my favorite. 

You might think today does not really relate to my 31 day challenge but in my mind it does; I will connect the dots like this for you and make it relational (sort of)! IF you think you might ever try RV living I would say you need to really like the person or persons that you will be in the RV with. We like each other in addition to loving each other. If you are going to live in a small space I think you need to like someone more then love them. Not real prolific but it's my .02.

31 day challenge with the Nester information can be found right here! Click on over and take a look there are some great reads out there! I am following a few myself! I like this one on "finding money" and I also think this one is a fun read and I have shared them all with our newly married daughter, as well as this one on shopping the Goodwill!

What days do you celebrate?