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Gratituesday: Manly Men

March 1, 2010 by Laura 20 Comments

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gratituesdaynov09

Last Friday I just didn’t feel well. I was achy all over and I felt like if I wasn’t really careful…I’d develop a very bad cold. So I decided to take the “day off” and focus on resting, taking vitamins and eating nutrition-packed -foods and drinking lots of water and herbal tea. I know my body well enough to know that if I push it on a day like that, I can just count on getting REALLY sick.

Thankfully Matt had the morning off and was able to hang out with the boys until 2ish. And I rested. It was wonderful.

Can I just tell you some of the sweetest parts of Mama having to “clock out” for a day?

First, at lunch…Matt and the boys decided to put together a big fruit salad to go with the pizza pockets (that were thankfully in the freezer ready for an easy meal). They had all kinds of fun mixing together just about every kind of fruit we had in the house. They added some cream…then Justus (the chef) sprinkled on some raisins and coconut flakes. It was SERIOUSLY delicious (and just what I needed)!

Later that afternoon Justus came in to my room and said, “Don’t worry mom. Before I ate my plate of fruit salad I took a couple of pictures for you in case you want to share our recipe on your website.”

justusfruitsaladsmIs that the SWEETEST!? Does my family know me or what?
And isn’t their salad beautiful?!
I think Justus needs to write a guest post and share his recipe.

Second – and I do think this is my favorite of all the ways my family pitched in this weekend – Malachi needed a birthday gift as he was going to a party Saturday for his friend Emma.

He was determined that he was going to get Emma a baby doll. He just HAD to get her a baby doll. There was no other option. I loved the idea and couldn’t wait to take him to the store to pick one out (because I haven’t picked out a baby doll at the store since…???).

However, since I was feeling so crummy Friday and knew Saturday would be pretty full…I resorted to calling Matt at work and asking him to see what he could find at Walmart on his way home that night.

You understand what I had to ask my husband to do, right? My husband, the father of four strapping sons needed to go to the store and pick out a baby doll. I wasn’t even really able to give him any direction or advice since it had been since ??? that I’d even been down the pink aisles at Walmart. We tend to stick to the brown and black and sword type aisles when we go.

But, Matt agreed and I have to say that if it’s even possible…I now love him even more. The guy spent 30 – yes thirty – minutes in the dolly aisle trying to figure out which baby doll would be the best one for Emma.

malachiwithdollsm

Malachi (and ALL the boys – even the 12 year old) were SO excited to see Emma’s baby doll the next morning. Emma’s pretty special to all of us, can you tell?

And third…well…let’s just say I’ve seen all kinds of other little surprises throughout the past couple of days that have shown me what all my boys did while I took the day off. I found a pair of Matt’s socks in my sock drawer, showing me that the boys folded clothes and attempted to put them away for me. I found my salt shaker in the TV room, showing me that the boys made themselves popcorn for a movie night Friday so I could rest. I’m pretty sure I’ll find more “surprises” in the next few days.

Ah, I love my guys.

What are you thankful for this Gratituesday? Write about it on your blog, then come link up with us here. If you don’t have a blog, be sure to leave a comment letting us know what you’re grateful for!

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Filed Under: Gratituesday Tagged With: God, grateful, Gratituesday, thankful

Comments

  1. Sherry says

    March 1, 2010 at 9:40 pm

    That is great they were able to get things done while you were sick. Glad you are feeling better!

    Reply
  2. Sarah says

    March 1, 2010 at 9:58 pm

    That’s just too sweet. I have two little boys myself and they can be so thoughtful when I’m not feeeing well!

    Reply
  3. It Feels Like Chaos says

    March 1, 2010 at 9:58 pm

    Okay, your husband picking out that doll is the sweetest thing!!! And he did a great job, my girlie loves the ones that have their own pacifiers and bottles!

    Reply
  4. Sandee says

    March 1, 2010 at 10:00 pm

    What a sweet post! And what sweet boys. I happen to also be married to one of those sweet ‘boys.’

    Reply
  5. Ally says

    March 1, 2010 at 10:07 pm

    What a great husband!! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  6. Valerie at Kite Koop says

    March 1, 2010 at 10:17 pm

    I love it!!! But it doesn’t surprise me – they are sweet every time I see them. Those boys are truly precious, and they have their mom and dad to thank for it!

    Reply
  7. Jessica says

    March 1, 2010 at 10:26 pm

    Oh my, it made me tear up a little when your son took a picture of the fruit for you — what a thoughtful boy!

    Reply
  8. Laura says

    March 1, 2010 at 11:22 pm

    I laughed out loud when I read that Justus took pictures of their salad for you. Your boys know you too well… :)

    Reply
  9. Andrea says

    March 1, 2010 at 11:56 pm

    How sweet! Good for you taking care of yourself like that. You are raising them right to be so thoughtful and independant when their mama has to go rest up for a while. They are going to be terrific husbands (and yours is a great example of that–Aww!). Let’s see. How old is Malachi? I think Clara might be just the right age . . . :)

    Reply
  10. Natasha says

    March 2, 2010 at 12:57 am

    How sweet! What precious young men you have!

    Reply
  11. Stacy @ Delighting in the Days says

    March 2, 2010 at 1:03 am

    What a great group of men you have around! It is so very sweet to read about them taking care of you.

    Reply
  12. Teresa says

    March 2, 2010 at 6:06 am

    That is too precious. It’s moments like that that melts a mommy’s heart. I am thankful today for my family and little sweeties that melt my heart everyday.

    Reply
  13. Rachel says

    March 2, 2010 at 6:23 am

    This is such a sweet post! Those are some wonderful men you have in your life, but I’m sure you know that already ;-) Hope you’re feeling better!

    Reply
  14. Sherry C. says

    March 2, 2010 at 7:56 am

    Beautiful! What a great family.

    Reply
  15. alyssa says

    March 2, 2010 at 10:25 am

    Awww! Too sweet! Aren’t husbands great? Can’t wait till my kids get a little older. The extent of my daughter( who turned 2 today!) helping mommy right now is bringing me a baby wipe or a toy to her 7 mo.old brother! Gotta start somewhere, right?

    Reply
  16. Momzoo says

    March 2, 2010 at 10:39 am

    How sweet, you are lucky.

    Reply
  17. Becky C says

    March 2, 2010 at 3:03 pm

    That is entirely too sweet!!!!!!!

    Reply
  18. jodi says

    March 3, 2010 at 11:06 am

    Okay, Laura… I know we’ve alrady talked about my emotional state of late but let me tell you… I have TEARS running down my face. How sweet are your boys?!! Totally and utterly sweet!!

    Reply
  19. The Prudent Homemaker says

    March 3, 2010 at 4:27 pm

    That is too funny that he took a picture of the salad for you! I can see my son doing that. . . . :)

    Reply
  20. Karen says

    March 6, 2010 at 9:56 am

    I love how grateful you are even when things are displaced. Choosing to see the good instead of the inconvenience is an excellent character quality to possess…The FRUIT of the Spirit!! Thanks for the encouragement!!

    Reply

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