Then things don’t go according to plan.

After creeping along the wet and wild freeways of San Jose after speaking at a MOPS group (hi Westgate Ladies!) this morning, I was so grateful to find a parking spot on our side of the street. Granted, there was a little sick feeling in the pit of my stomach saying “Don’t Park Here! This is where the tree limbs sometimes fall.” So, I figured I would park there for just a few minutes. I went upstairs to work, and then heard a CRACK sound. Here is what roger and I saw…

Yep – that is my poor little van buried under all that tree. Sigh.

So now we deal with insurance companies, car rental agencies, and headaches.

The upside is that one of us could have easily been in the van (and had been just 20 minutes before.) So I have been tallying my blessings all day.

All this as a reminder that plans are just that – plans. You are going to run into obstacles when it comes to blessing your husband (or in my case, the obstacle ran into me…) Time to shoot up a prayer, re-plan your plan, and move on.

Your husband is out of town? Do a project that blesses him while he is away, (a flirty text message, throwing out your ugly slippers, etc.)

You and he are in a huge fight and you never want to talk to him again, (because that is the way to make him suffer.) Bless him anyway. You need it more than he does.

Thursday’s Winner was Becky R from San Jose, CA

Stay dry and more tomorrow.

When Things Don’t Go According to Plan and Friday’s Winner

• Amazon.com
• Barnes and Noble
• Borders
• Books-a-Million 

- Welcome to The Husband Project!

As I tried to figure out how to still spread holiday cheer, it dawned on me the most meaningful presents I’d received weren’t things that could be purchased at a mall: the black-and-white picture of our son, Justen, in an antique frame; a rosebush my friend Barbara helped me plant in our backyard; a series of Bible verses my friend Katie put in bright yellow frames; my grandmother’s recipe box my mom gave me after Grandma Edna passed away.

I realized then, I, too could come up with thoughtful gifts yet stay within our Christmas budget. Here are 20 inexpensive gift ideas that convey the love of Christ in a special way to others:

1. Now You’re Cookin’. People constantly look for new dishes to put on their table. Why not compile the recipes you’re famous for into a hand-made cookbook? For an extra treat, add a jar of homemade salsa to inspire the future cook.
2. Two-for-Two. Last Christmas, my friend Kimberly, who lives 400 miles away, gave me a one-year devotional with this note: “I bought two copies of this book—one for me and one for you. Even though we live apart, we’ll always be on the same page.”
3. Double It Up. Always get double prints when developing film. When I leaf through my pictures at the drug store, I mentally decide who gets the second print of my favorite snaps. I recently came across a great picture of my mom and daughter. While still at the drugstore, I found a frame for it. Instantly, I had the perfect Christmas gift for my hard-to-buy-for mom.
4. Memory Makers. Here’s another way to use double prints: Take a selection of pictures and slip them into a memory book to send to faraway relatives.
5. Coupon Craze. My friend Tokoshi is a genius at flower arranging. As a gift to me, she printed coupons redeemable for floral arranging lessons taught by her. She put the coupons in a bag with floral scissors and a list of other items I needed to bring to “school”. Whether your coupons are to teach your niece to bake or your mom to scuba dive, you’ll be giving two gifts in one: the lessons and your time.
6. This Is Your Life. When my friend Linda turned 50, her best friend gave her the issue of Life magazine from the week she was born. This inexpensive gift she scooped up at an antique store was the hit of the party.
7. Letter Brigade. My friend Bill wanted to give his wife, Patti, something special while staying within their newlywed budget. On the sly, Bill contacted Patti’s closest friends and relatives and asked them to write letters to her about why she’s special to them. Bill had the letters mailed to his office, then wrapped them up to give Patti on Christmas.
8. Reading Room. For your child’s teacher, try an age-appropriate book signed by your child to add to the in-class library.
9. The Gift of Paper. Give your child’s teacher a gift certificate to your local bookstore, coffee shop, or café, along with a note of appreciation. In Proverbs 12:25, it says, “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.”
10. Game Time. Age-appropriate games are great to play in the classroom on rainy days.
11. Trinkets for Teachers. Disposable cameras, blank videotapes, roller-ball pens, note cards, and stamps are often expenses that come out of the teacher’s pocket.
12. Subscribe Today. Do you have a budding shutterbug in the family? Show your support for your child’s passion by giving him a subscription to a photography magazine. Buy the current issue off the newsstand and wrap it up with a few rolls of film.
13. Custom Costuming. Stretch your children’s imaginations. Decorate a box to hold cast-off uniforms, jewelry, hats, and shoes to create a treasure chest of dress-up clothes.
14. Play It Again. Make a recording of yourself reading your child’s favorite book so he can hear it over and over. This gift will be appreciated by your child as well as the baby sitter!
15. Auto Shop. For the car lover, grab a bucket and fill it with car-care items: chamois, wheel cleaner, glass cleaner, leather conditioner, and an air freshener. Many of these items can be purchased in “trial size” bottles at an auto parts shop. (If you’re lucky, you may get your car cleaned, too.)
16. Personal Shopper for Dad. Offer to shop for the women in your dad’s life. If your father’s anything like mine, this is the best gift you can give him—and your mom!
17. Total Control. A master remote control will let your guy have reign over the stereo, DVD player, VCR, TV, and surround sound all at once. There are many remotes that will do the job for under $20.
18. Family Field trip. Give a family membership to a local museum or zoo. Be sure to find out what special events and benefits exist for members: a special newsletter for kids, members-only hours, discounts on programs and at the gift shop.
19. Cherished Moments. Last Christmas, my friend Vikki received a “Memory Jar” from her friend Dawn just before Dawn moved out of state. On pieces of paper Dawn wrote her favorite memories they’d shared and put them in a decorative jar. Now, even though they’re apart, they keep filling the jar by adding things they continue to remember or new memories they make on trips to visit each other.
20. Baby Blessing. When our kids were young, our neighbors prepaid our baby sitter for five hours. We had a wonderful night out, and our kids had a great night in with their favorite baby sitter. If you’re short on cash, do the baby-sitting yourself.

With a little prayer, creativity, and thoughtful planning, you’ll have a gift that will be both lovingly given and joyfully received.

20 Gifts that Are More Thought than Bought

But, just like every other marriage, unless I am intetional about letting him know it, I can sometimes forget that little fact.

I have certain things that stress me out in our relationship:

• Traveling Together
• Directions while traveling
• Traveling with kids

(Do you see a pattern here?)

It can be hard to remember all the reasons that Roger rocks my world on a regular basis.

So instead of silently pouting  and waiting until it all gets better, (because really? I was the one with the attitude this weekend…) it’s time for my campaign to let Roger know that I love him.

So here are three simple things I am going to do to improve my relationship with my man, today.

1. Leaving a Post-it Y’all know I have a deep affection for my office supplies. When I can combine my love of all things form Office Depot with my love of my man, it’s a beautiful thing. So I’m going to let Roger know – via sticky note – one of the reasons I love him.
2. Make Him a Treat Baked goods always make Roger feel loved. I have time today to make him something (OK – so it will probably involve a mix, but still…) but if I didn’t, there is no reason I can’t get him something from Safeway.
3. Brag on Him It takes about two seconds to think of something great about Roger – but that does little good unless I share it. Sometimes, I need to share it with Rog, but it is way more effective to let someone he knows how much he rocks.

So today, I want you to join me in a love-a-thon. Will you do one thing to let your man know he rocks? tell us what you did (or are going to do) and I will enter you into a drawing for one of my favorite marriage-enhancing books:

Red-Hot Monogomy by Bill and Pam Farrel.

Make sure you let me know know what it is, here on the blog, by Wednesday, and I will enter you into the drawing.

3 Things You Can Do to have a Better Relationship with Your Man Today