Accidentally Wonderful

This week we went down to spend some time with Todd's family. While we were there, we were lucky to be able to slip away for a night without the kids. We started our date by checking in to our hotel. Our original plan had been to stay at a bed and breakfast, but all the cheap rooms were gone... The hotel we picked had great reviews online, but the first thing we noticed was that there was a lamp missing - just the lampshade remained sitting on the floor. When Todd got the lights on I saw that there were 3 or 4 cigarette holes on the bed spread. I was starting to worry that this wouldn't be such a hot date.


We didn't really have a plan once we got into Charleston, and Todd kept saying "Just trust me." I don't know exactly why, but when he says those words it makes me want to turn tale and run! We walked around the historic district looking for a place to eat. Nothing really looked that good. We were accosted by Chris from the "Vacation Station" who wanted us to come to his sales pitch. The sun was setting and it was getting cold. I was wondering if trusting Todd was really such a good idea.

Then we stumbled upon Jestine's Kitchen. It looked charming, so we decided to give it a try. I think it is fair to say we were both a little apprehensive.




Todd ordered the fresh catch of the day and I ordered some fried chicken. The service was great, the food was great, and we loved the atmosphere. I thought that the desert was worthy of a picture. We felt more than a little silly busting out our camera to take pictures of pie, and were trying to be discrete about it. But the ladies behind us noticed, and then they took out a camera to snap pictures of the fried green tomatoes. It was very good. Todd was quite pleased with himself.

We finished our meal and came to the realization that it was dark (and cold) and most of the historic district was closed up but we still had time to kill. We didn't want to go bowling or catch a movie, since those are things that we can do anytime at home. But we couldn't really think of anything better to do. We headed back toward the hotel, and missed a turn. With the one way streets and us not knowing the area, we ended up more than a little off coarse and not exactly sure how to get turned around.

Todd pulled off to let an aggravated driver pass, and we saw that we were on S Battery Street. Todd's face lit up when he remembered his dad telling him that Rainbow Row was located in the part of town called the battery. We had been hoping for chance to check out this well known strip of houses. We parked the car and walked around. We walked a long time, down several different streets. It was beautiful and somewhat intimate (there was hardly anyone else around) but we weren't finding what we were looking for. Just when we were ready to call it quits, we found Rainbow Row. Since it was night time, the pictures didn't really come out well...

At the end of the night, Todd asked "Why can't you just trust me? Wasn't that a great date?" And I conceded, it was wonderful. Accidentally wonderful. I love you, Todd ;)

The Best Honey

Todd is attending the Willowcreek Leadership Summit (via satellite) this week. Last night I drove out to pick him up. I love that the Mission sends him to these conferences because he always comes home with great insights on being a better leader (at work and at home). I could tell he was in a really good mood when he jumped into the van. I figured it was just because he had such a great day... but Todd was up to something.



There was one particular speaker, Gary Haugen of International Justice Mission that Todd thought I would be interested in. He took a bunch of notes from his session, which is huge 'cause Todd doesn't usually take notes at all. But he didn't think that he could do it justice, so he bought me something...one of my favorite somethings...

a book! Just Courage God's Great Expedition for the Restless Christian is about "engaging in the fight for justice". We might even read it together, after we finish Red Letters. He's the best!

8 Years!

It was eight years ago today that Todd and I were married! I am not a sentimental person (in fact I have forgotten our anniversary at least twice) but I have been reflecting a lot over this anniversary. It feels really good say "Look how far we've come." And it doesn't have to be our anniversary for me to look at Todd and say "I really am one lucky woman."

There have been lots of ups and downs, and we often say that it feels like we've gone through about 20 years of marriage in eight years. The first 4 or 5 were like being in a pressure cooker...In 5 years we lived in 6 different places, Todd held 4 very different jobs, we attended 5 different churches (two of which, it turns out, bear a strong resemblance to a cult) went through 4 pregnancies (the first two were miscarriages) and and a period of what was beginning to look a lot like infertility. And that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of it all.

At one point, we sought some counseling and the counselor asked us about our Myers-Brigs personalities. Todd explained that he is INFP and I am ESTJ - we are complete opposites (although I was right on the fence between I-introvert and E-extrovert.) The counselor just kind of looked at us for a second and said "Wow, its amazing that you guys are still married!" Apparently, the fact that it sometimes feels like our personalities aren't compatible is backed by scientific research :)

The other day I was telling Todd how I see our anniversary as a pretty amazing thing. Most of my college friends didn't think we would last 5 years, and sometimes it felt like they were right. Todd agreed with me when I said that were it not for the grace of God, we would not still be married. We are both pretty darn stubborn, and I am pretty selfish, too! If God hadn't given us the strength and the wisdom to work through it all we likely would have thrown in the towel. I don't know how people do it without Jesus. NOT to say it isn't worth it, but dang, sometimes its hard.

Promotion

We have been having an eventful week, to say the least. One of the big deals this week is Todd's job. A few weeks ago at work he got the impression that their were going to be lots of changes and it could positively affect him. However, he had no idea what it would really be like or even if it was guaranteed to be a good change. But this week he started in his new role as Operations Liaison and he is really happy to be in the position. He will be maintaining some of his old duties (statistics type stuff) but he will be taking on lots of new stuff too. It is sure to challenge him and stretch him.

It is really exciting to see him in this new role, because I think that it will highlight his strengths and help him develop more leadership skills at work. Of course, he told me that I got the promotion too because I will have to deal with him working some overnight shifts and things like that. He needs to present at all major Mission functions, and I suppose a good wife would be right there beside her husband with the perfectly behaved children (smiling all the while!). But what about my pay increase?

Todd, I love you and I am very proud of you. You are a wonderful husband and father. I am blessed to have you by my side and looking forward to the things God will do with us in the future.