Well, finally. I had been waiting for this day for a long time. An unplanned day off for my husband. Freedom from the stresses of work (for him). Several extra hours of much needed sleep (for him and for me- I get up with him, too). A day to relax and unwind together that came as an unexpected surprise.
Before marriage, Brian and I lived in different states. Last year and the year before, we would always chat on the way to work. We commuted at about the same time, so he usually called me. If I didn't hear from Brian, and if I tried to call him and his cell was off, there was usually one reason. He either had a delay or a snow day. I would grumble at the unfairness of it all as I sleepily made my way to school, and I immediately checked his school website to see what the status was. Let's just say that he had a lot more delays and days off than I did.
So I couldn't wait, now that we're married, for that glorious day, or perhaps, many days, that we would unexpectedly have to spend together. After all, we live in the Pocono region, and the past two winters were vicious. Surely we would have lots of snow days together.
I waited, and waited. I gave up hope, since this was turning out to be a remarkably and unseasonably warm winter, but my disappointment was appeased when I discovered that Brian's school has "Give Back" days, which are the unused snow days that administration has already scheduled in, and therefore, are given back to the students. What a wonderful thing! At my old school, we had one (maybe) if we were fortunate, but they have quite a few in this region. He already had one this past Tuesday and there are more on schedule for next month.
I accepted this turn of events. If we weren't going to have a snow day, at least he'd get some days off for all of our disappointment.
But then... a weather report of a winter advisory... and a phone call... the first phone call alerted us to a two-hour delay. Two hours and another phone call later, we heard the long-awaited news. School was closed! Allelujah!
I had to make plans quickly. This was unexpected. A snow day always calls for some baked goods. (I love to bake, but I try to hold myself back from baking all the time, since it is just the two of us, and I don't wish for Brian and I to weigh one thousand pounds.) Brian's parents had made us a "snow day kit" as part of our Christmas gift, but we already ate all the chocolate, and I made the blueberry muffins because I had given up on the elusive snow day. What to do? I couldn't even make the chili provided in the kit because I used my ground beef last night for dinner.
Well, the weather really wasn't all that bad, in fact, we didn't have much snow. We were not snowbound in the least, so off we went to Walmart for some walnuts. Banana bread just tastes so much better with a little bit of nuts.
In truth, I like snow days better when one is truly snowbound while the snow comes down in buckets and there is nothing to do but drink hot chocolate and watch movies. It wasn't quite that kind of day, but it still was wonderful, and I got to enjoy a rare weekday home with my husband.
I am satisfied.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Valentine's Day With The One I Love
Brian and I had a wonderful Valentine's Day together. It began in the morning with a card I had ready for him at breakfast.
All day I looked forward to Brian's return from work. When he came home I had presents waiting for him.
I got him a tan sweater vest. (I LOVE sweater vests for men and I have gotten three for Brian since being married and I got him one or two while dating.) Thankfully, he likes them, too.
I also got him the movie "Courageous", which is a Christian movie about the responsibilities of fatherhood, and I got him the first season of "The Andy Griffith Show", which he also loves. (I think I really surprised him there!)
He bought me some delicious chocolates from a homemade candy shop downtown, and he also got me a beautiful pair of ruby earrings (which I forgot to photograph). I don't deserve them, and he is too good to me.
We went to dinner at a Chinese restaurant that Brian picked out. The food was fantastic. We rarely go out to eat because cooking at home is much cheaper, so this was a treat. I dressed up a little and Brian kept his nice work clothes on, and I have to say we looked pretty good!
This was our third Valentine's Day together as a couple, but the best by far. There is something about being married which gives one security and confidence. I could enjoy Valentine's Day while thinking to myself, "This really is my Valentine. He's not just my Valentine for the day; he's my Valentine every day, and I get to enjoy him all my days." And you know what? I wouldn't trade him for anything.
I love you, my darling!
(I'm not sure what was going on with the lighting here.)
All day I looked forward to Brian's return from work. When he came home I had presents waiting for him.
I got him a tan sweater vest. (I LOVE sweater vests for men and I have gotten three for Brian since being married and I got him one or two while dating.) Thankfully, he likes them, too.
I also got him the movie "Courageous", which is a Christian movie about the responsibilities of fatherhood, and I got him the first season of "The Andy Griffith Show", which he also loves. (I think I really surprised him there!)
He bought me some delicious chocolates from a homemade candy shop downtown, and he also got me a beautiful pair of ruby earrings (which I forgot to photograph). I don't deserve them, and he is too good to me.
We went to dinner at a Chinese restaurant that Brian picked out. The food was fantastic. We rarely go out to eat because cooking at home is much cheaper, so this was a treat. I dressed up a little and Brian kept his nice work clothes on, and I have to say we looked pretty good!
This was our third Valentine's Day together as a couple, but the best by far. There is something about being married which gives one security and confidence. I could enjoy Valentine's Day while thinking to myself, "This really is my Valentine. He's not just my Valentine for the day; he's my Valentine every day, and I get to enjoy him all my days." And you know what? I wouldn't trade him for anything.
I love you, my darling!
(I'm not sure what was going on with the lighting here.)
Thursday, February 9, 2012
On Being a Housewife
It's quite a contrast between the life I am now living to the life I left behind last August. For six years, I worked as a teacher- one year in the Czech Republic and five at a private Christian school back home in NJ. Even before that, I had a couple of different jobs after college. I worked as a financial aid adviser at a seminary for a year, then I worked as a legal secretary.
When I meet people here in PA for the first time, or even when I talk to people I already know, some are surprised to see that I am not working. It would be one thing if I had a child to care for, but as I have none at this time, it sure looks odd in this century for a newly married woman to stay home while her husband does all the work.
People wonder, I am sure, what in the world I do all day. Well, I sit with my feet up, of course, sipping iced tea with one of those little umbrellas sticking out of the top!
My job for the past five years was very demanding. Being a teacher is one of the hardest jobs in the world, and being a literature teacher is one of the most demanding disciplines due to the nature of the work. Grading stacks of papers is no easy task, and it is one that took me hours on end. As a teacher, I felt my students deserved the best from me as I graded, so I would read papers not once, but twice to be sure I agreed with my own grade. I often commented to my mom that if I were married, my poor husband would be starved and neglected, because my work kept me so busy. I may have physically left my job at 3:30, but the hours I spent home doing additional work was countless, and no one could understand this unless they were a teacher themselves, and specifically, a literature or writing teacher.
Since I had to move to PA once Brian and I married, leaving my job was a necessity. But I knew I didn't want to do that kind of work here, where dinner each night would be a free-for-all, or a quick trip to local fast food restaurants. I knew I wanted to give my husband my best each day, and support him as much as I could. My goal is to make his life easier because I am here.
When did a two-income family become a MUST? As a housewife, I may not be churning butter and milking the cows, but I do a lot to take care of my husband, my home, and simply learn more domestic skills. It wasn't until the feminism movement that the great majority of women started to step outside of the home. I've been there already. I've done that. I'm happily embracing this new chapter in my life.
I use this time to learn how to live on less and make dollars stretch. I clip coupons and search for the better deal. I waste very little food because I know what I am cooking each week and I don't buy what I don't need. I compare prices and many times choose store brand over the big name (and I'm learning that often there isn't a difference in taste). I contemplate every purchase, deciding what is really worth it and what isn't.
When it comes to clothes shopping, there I shine. I am a bargain-hunter, and I am quite good at getting a lot for a ridiculously insane low price. Now that I am not working, I don't buy much for myself at all, but when I do, rest assured, the prices are as low as thrift store prices (better in some cases), though brand new. And even for my dear hubby, I am able to find remarkably good deals (ex: ties for $2.77 each).
I am also getting good at finding deals for the home. Curtains under $3.00? Check. Several pillows for $1.99 each? Check. One of my goals of shopping is never paying more than I have to.
Brian tells me time and again that he likes that I am home. Because I don't work, I take care of things around here and leave little for him to worry about. I get up with him at 5:20, pack his lunch, prepare his breakfast, and stand at the door ready to kiss him goodbye. I'm listening for him when he returns, running to the door when I hear him coming, and greeting him with a hug and a kiss. I have a hot meal ready and waiting for him.
To me, this is priceless, and well worth it. I love serving my husband and taking care of him, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. If that time comes where I need to go to work, as long as we have no children, then I will. But for now, I am relishing my days, enjoying the greatest job I've ever had.
When I meet people here in PA for the first time, or even when I talk to people I already know, some are surprised to see that I am not working. It would be one thing if I had a child to care for, but as I have none at this time, it sure looks odd in this century for a newly married woman to stay home while her husband does all the work.
People wonder, I am sure, what in the world I do all day. Well, I sit with my feet up, of course, sipping iced tea with one of those little umbrellas sticking out of the top!
My job for the past five years was very demanding. Being a teacher is one of the hardest jobs in the world, and being a literature teacher is one of the most demanding disciplines due to the nature of the work. Grading stacks of papers is no easy task, and it is one that took me hours on end. As a teacher, I felt my students deserved the best from me as I graded, so I would read papers not once, but twice to be sure I agreed with my own grade. I often commented to my mom that if I were married, my poor husband would be starved and neglected, because my work kept me so busy. I may have physically left my job at 3:30, but the hours I spent home doing additional work was countless, and no one could understand this unless they were a teacher themselves, and specifically, a literature or writing teacher.
Since I had to move to PA once Brian and I married, leaving my job was a necessity. But I knew I didn't want to do that kind of work here, where dinner each night would be a free-for-all, or a quick trip to local fast food restaurants. I knew I wanted to give my husband my best each day, and support him as much as I could. My goal is to make his life easier because I am here.
When did a two-income family become a MUST? As a housewife, I may not be churning butter and milking the cows, but I do a lot to take care of my husband, my home, and simply learn more domestic skills. It wasn't until the feminism movement that the great majority of women started to step outside of the home. I've been there already. I've done that. I'm happily embracing this new chapter in my life.
I use this time to learn how to live on less and make dollars stretch. I clip coupons and search for the better deal. I waste very little food because I know what I am cooking each week and I don't buy what I don't need. I compare prices and many times choose store brand over the big name (and I'm learning that often there isn't a difference in taste). I contemplate every purchase, deciding what is really worth it and what isn't.
When it comes to clothes shopping, there I shine. I am a bargain-hunter, and I am quite good at getting a lot for a ridiculously insane low price. Now that I am not working, I don't buy much for myself at all, but when I do, rest assured, the prices are as low as thrift store prices (better in some cases), though brand new. And even for my dear hubby, I am able to find remarkably good deals (ex: ties for $2.77 each).
I am also getting good at finding deals for the home. Curtains under $3.00? Check. Several pillows for $1.99 each? Check. One of my goals of shopping is never paying more than I have to.
Brian tells me time and again that he likes that I am home. Because I don't work, I take care of things around here and leave little for him to worry about. I get up with him at 5:20, pack his lunch, prepare his breakfast, and stand at the door ready to kiss him goodbye. I'm listening for him when he returns, running to the door when I hear him coming, and greeting him with a hug and a kiss. I have a hot meal ready and waiting for him.
To me, this is priceless, and well worth it. I love serving my husband and taking care of him, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. If that time comes where I need to go to work, as long as we have no children, then I will. But for now, I am relishing my days, enjoying the greatest job I've ever had.
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