We're Hoos...How 'Bout You?

Do you have a special date night splurge with your husband? Is there something out of the ordinary (other than your home, children and family life) that you two share?

A hobby, sport, activity or passion that brings the two of you together...not the run-of-the-mill normal "living" kind of things.


For us, it's football. More specifically, college football.


You see, we've grown up in a college town.

Charlottesville, Virginia...home to The University of Virginia

We are Virginia Cavaliers fans, through and through.

We've known how to "paint the town orange" since we can remember. Well, It probably took a little longer for my country boy to come around as a Wahoo fan, seeing he spent so much of his childhood in the country, chasing fireflies and playing in the creek beds. ;)

Nevertheless, he is a HUGE fan, now!


I grew up watching UVA football games and I even had the privilege of going the women's basketball games with my dad.

My childhood dream was to play college basketball for UVA and attend the UVA Law School.

Twenty plus years later, I am an even bigger fan. My husband and I have found out that we enjoy watching the games TOGETHER. (If you run to the TV to catch the game when your man is not even home, you are, without a doubt a football fan! Yep, that's me!)


What we love even more than watching the game on TV is going TO THE GAMES...oh, my!

It's our "splurge".

A seemingly frivolous thing that brings us together...cheering on the home team, jumping with excitement when they score a touchdown and singing the "Good Ole' Song".

Whatever your splurge is with your "love" make sure that you don't get so busy living life, raising a family and paying the bills that you forget to do that special thing. Take the time to work on and build a strong marriage...one day those kids are going to be "raised" and on their own and you'll be left staring into the eyes of a stranger if you don't build your relationship now.

If you don't have something special, then make up something that can be your own...it doesn't even have to be expensive as long as it's just the two of you, together and enjoying your special friendship.

We even enjoy going for a drive on a pretty day or a warm evening, winding our way along back country roads, taking advantage of an occasional stop sign to lean over a sneak a passionate kiss or two...Or three. ;). It's those kind of things that will bind your hearts together and strengthen your marriage.

Living purposefully goes beyond raising your children...it's also what will make a fulfilling, lasting marriage.

Decking the Halls

I love Christmas....more importantly, I love the warmth, the joy and the family traditions that come along with it.

As I get older (I'm certainly not getting an younger) I find that I spend more time in reflection, savoring moments that may never come again.

One of my favorite times is when we decorate the tree. We get out the hot cocoa and eggnog, then my husband and I sit back to watch the large production of adorning our 9 foot tree. Our children know how it works (we've done it the same ways for years).

When my children were much smaller, I wanted them to be able to enjoy decorating the tree, as well as satisfy my "OCD" ways. ;). Sooo, I bought boxes and boxes of colorful Christmas balls...we have so many balls that they can put them wherever they want with no worries that someone will rearrange them because they are too close. Our tree is LOADED with these simple little balls.

After the hundreds (seriously, hundreds) of balls are on, then we bring out the special ornaments. Everyone gets to place their special ornaments which turns out to be quite a treat for them.

Once the tree is loaded, everyone steps back commenting how beautiful it turned out with the usual, "I love our tree" comments. :)

I love being a mom. I love the privilege that I have to impact and raise these special children that I have been blessed with. My heart overflows with joy!