I recently read a blog post by my friend
Paige that I liked about marriage and the struggles we go through. She talked about reading about someone saying they wished that at the end of 7 years they could decide if they could walk away or marry again. She commented on how knowing that there's not an escape hatch on bad, grumpy, bad breathe days and that it's the glue that helps them work through the hard times.
Now I know many who have gone through divorces, or have parents who have done so, and this is a painful topic. I've been touched by it too. We have been through our fair share of tough times as a couple and a family. But still I am so grateful for Paolo at my side. I'm grateful for loving and forgiveness, and for sacrifice.
I'm slowly (very slowly) reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis again after a very long time. I just read the chapter on marriage and wanted to share what I liked from it.
"The Christian idea of marriage is based on Christ's words that a man and wife are to be regarded as a single organism- for that is what the words "one flesh" in modern English would be. And the Christians believe that when He said this He was not expressing a sentiment but stating a fact- just as one is stating a fact when one says that a lock and its key are one mechanism, or that a violin and a bow are one musical instrument. The inventor of the human machine was telling us that the its two halves, the male and the female, were made to be combined together in pairs, not simply on the sexual level, but totally combined...
The idea the "being in love" is the only reason for remaining married really leaves no room for marriage as a contract or promise at all. If love is the whole thing, then the promise can add nothing; and if it adds nothing, then it should not be made. The curious thing is that lovers themselves, while they remain really in love, know this better than than those who talk about love. As Chesterton pointed out, those who are in love have a natural inclination to bind themselves by promises. Love songs all over the world are full of vows in eternal constancy...
And of course, the promise, made when I am in love and because I am in love, to be true to the beloved as long as I live, commits one to being true even if I cease to be in love. A promise must be about things that I can do, about actions: no one can promise to go on feeling in a certain way. He might as well promise to never have a headache or always to feel hungry. But what it may be asked, is the use of keeping two people together if they are no longer in love? ...
But, of course, ceasing to be "in love" need not mean ceasing to love. Love in this second sense- love as distinct from "being in love" is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity, maintained by the will and deliberately strengthened by habit; reinforced by (in Christian marriages) the grace which both parents ask, and receive, from God. They can have this love for each other even at those moments when you don't like each other; as you love yourself even when you do not like yourself. They can retain this love even when each would easily, if they allowed themselves, be "in love" with someone else. "Being in love" first moved them to promise fidelity: this quieter love enables them to keep the promise. It is on this love that the engine of marriage is run: being in love was the explosion that started it." (see pages 99-100)
I'm grateful for families and for marriage. I'm grateful for my sweetheart. I'm grateful that we work at it one day at a time. I'm grateful that we're not alone in the wonderful adventure (and sometimes difficult struggle) of marriage and families. I know that God wants to help us in our best moments and in our worst. I'm grateful for that superhuman help.
Treasure #1: sticks and rocks are the usual treasures that Aaron and Jordan find. They shout with excited voices like they've just found a hundred dollar bill (for the 563rd time), it's a treasure! Today Jordan yelled those famous words "it's a treasure!" and gave me a small rock to put in my pocket. Shortly after with the same voice of excitement, "oh look! I found a match!"
Treasure #3: we were sitting in the dip between big rolling hills while going to dig for dinosaur bones. Aaron looked at the only two clouds in the sky and we were enjoying the sunshine on a cold spring day. For the first time that I can recall Aaron gave a shape to the clouds. "Oh look mom! It's a crocodile!" 
Treasure #4: my little ones! I especially love having a little girl around that sweetens up life a little. I love my boys too. I can't imagine my life without sticks, dirt, rocks, cars racing around my table and every other surface in my house.
Treasure #5: check out those fat rolls! Love 'em!
Sunday (March 4th) was my birthday. I turned 33. I'm still young enough to admit to my age. :) My husmband gave me the best birthday present ever- an afternoon off from being mom. We had stake conference in Venice. So after 2 hours of driving up. 2 hours of trying to keep the boys good and calm (which they did suprisingly well). So we played at the park for 2 hours. My friend Brianna who lives in Bologna came up to the conference too. She suprised me by making these delicious cookies! They were so yummy. We also splurged on strawberries, which the boys devoured.
I love Aaron's face.
Thank you to Paolo for sending me into Venice with some friends and taking the boys the rest of the day by himself. He drove 2 hours home, alone. Kept two very active boys busy for a whole afternoon, alone. Put the boys to bed, alone. Put them back in bed a total of 9 times, alone. Jordan got up 5 different times after being put in bed because he wanted to be cuddled. Aaron was beyond difficult to put back to bed- 4 times. Thank you to my sweetheart for letting me have fun, for taking two busy boys, and mostly for loving me! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
This is my friend Rosangela. She was our tour guide and we had so much fun.
The grand canale from Ponte Rialto.
My friend Paige and her husband Mike. Little Ada was a trooper in the stroller the whole time!
I love the windows in Venice!
I recently read a blog post by my friend Paige that I liked about marriage and the struggles we go through. She talked about reading about someone saying they wished that at the end of 7 years they could decide if they could walk away or marry again. She commented on how knowing that there's not an escape hatch on bad, grumpy, bad breathe days and that it's the glue that helps them work through the hard times.
Poor Isabel fell from her high chair a week ago saturday as one of my english students was leaving. It's one of those moments where you feel terrible as a mother. It didn't help that the next week we went to the pediatrician and on her 6 month report it says, "linear bruise on right cheek. Mom states she fell from the high chair." It makes you feel like an abusive parent, even though you're not.
The sun is starting to shine and most of the snow has finally melted. We now can go to the park again. Yeah for sunshine!
This is Jordan tracing his own foot. It was quite a funny site.
Hi, my name is Flash Jordan. I am a superhero, famous amongst my family members. I am most famous for...
This is the best money ever spent... the costume that is. I got it on sale for Aaron one year. Jordan has worn it all day every day for the past 10 days. He even calls himself Flash Jordan. Below are the wrestling moves he knows how to use on dad. 
This picture reminds me of my grandma when I see her eyes, and it also reminds me a little of my sister Maureen. Isabel loves the prunes.
This a picture of an outfit that I love, but the picture doesn't do it justice. A little vain I know, but I am a girl. :)
Another one of my favorite dresses. Thanks mom!
