The sun is out and it would appear to be a warm day, but the wind is so sharp and cold. After Sunday afternoon nap, I went out to feed the animals, and was so glad to reach the warmth of the garage again! Gone were my thoughts of taking a walk.... My exercise bike has batteries in it again, which makes it possible to choose levels of resistance and then to see how many calories you've burned.  I usually pick nearly the highest level, burning as many as I can in 10 or 20 min. I have been neglecting it for a long time, but now that it is working again.....
      I just had a half of a grape fruit- yum! That reminds me of  Ryan's science experiment. Showing the benefits of micro surgery by making a small slit and using a tweezers to remove a seed :) A little difficult since we didn't have an endoscope on the end to see the inside!
       My kind, loving husband worked all day yesterday to change the washer and dryer to the basement. It meant running a gas line for the dryer, so it wasn't a small project. That room has many purposes....canning room, freezer room, storage room, toy room, exercise room, sewing room? and now laundry room! It is not a pretty room, but ever so useful! I am a very happy gal. I finally have a laundry room, and a walk-in pantry! Jason, with Ryan and Jerry's help, also built the pantry shelves yesterday. Jason's brothers dropped Jerry off while they went into town, then when they came back they helped move the washer and dryer down the steps. It worked out so well, and we didn't plan it! Thanks guys! Saved me and Ryan from lifting too heavy stuff. I will miss having the washer and dryer up on the main floor, but I know I will also enjoy not having the laundry in the way, down the hall, and into the kitchen. Tomorrow I will get to see how wash day goes in the new location. Jason also bought me a laundry cart, with four bags. I think it will hold maybe about four loads of dirty wash, eliminating piles laying around on the floor.
          Last weekend was the Art of Marriage Seminar that we'd been planning for the last month. What a great weekend, seeing the couples that came enjoying being together, and enjoying the sessions. We had such a great location, not far from where the children were being babysat, and the building was so suited to our needs! There was a small kitchenette around the corner where I could prepare snacks with out disturbing the session. In the main room was a counter, sink, fridge and microwave. So we provided microwave popcorn bags for couples to help themselves and bottled water in the fridge. Cups of fresh fruit and trail mix were other snack options. We had 12 couples, in all stages of married life (a couple married for 4 months all the way to 50+ years.)  We had some fun with a give away (a variety of gifts) for each session. We drew out couples names to choose the winner. After the last session, we encouraged couples to go out on a date together to talk and listen, and maybe enjoy supper at a romantic restaurant. :)
We knew we couldn't make any definite plans ourselves, though....our date would be loading up and
cleaning the place. Although we dismissed @ 5 , it was 8:00 till we were ready to leave. We went home and unloaded and put most things away in half an hour. (You can really move with no children around!) By that time I was hungry. We stopped at Subway in Dalton, and enjoyed a bite together and went to pick up our children which we'd dropped off 12 hours before...( Bradyn had been brought to me at lunch hour, so I could nurse him. )
It was a good experience for us as a couple...we spend more time together than usual and prayed more together than usual. A 'thriving marriage' has become our desire for ourselves and others around us! Either we are growing closer or we are drifting farther apart.Same as our relationship with God!