Boy Are My Arms Tired...

The heading "Boy My Arms Are Tired" is a new feature I discovered that makes the title a link so if you click on it, you'll be taken to the SmartMarriages website which is all things marriage and the conference we attend each year. Check it out!

Just flew in from San Francisc0- boy are my arms tired! I hate that joke. Actually it's not even really a joke, it's pretty much just something "punny" people get a kick out of saying and they pride themselves in being so "clever". Typically you'll find this pun-ster being the only one chuckling at their own joke. If you watch- everyone else is either groaning or making a horrible face. Another favorite is one I heard as a kid- "enjoy your trip? see ya next fall!" That of course, is used when someone has just tripped over something and is probably a little flustered and doesn't relish the spotlight. This is where you just long to go over and flick that guy really hard in the nose and put an end to their party-of-one.

I digress- it's a favorite hobby I guess- this blog was going to be about my trip to San Francisco for work but I enjoy a good tangent and so I got into pet peeves about punny people. Blogs are an interesting journey even into your own mind. I have already thought of about 10 other things I could go on a tangent about but I'm going to practice staying focused.

Anyhoo, (another thing punny people say), I went to San Francisco for the SmartMarriages Conference for work and had a nice time- I was gone 5 days. The kids did better than they did last year when I had to go to Denver for the conference- where they made themselves sick and threw up because they were so devistated that I was gone. A bit dramatic but it's nice that they like me.

This year Faith only called and bawled & begged me to come home to end her misery 2-3 times. A real step forward. I don't think she even angst vomited. Sam got verclempt a time or two on the phone but if you keep his social schedule packed he's pretty much fine. Pretty much don't ever ask him if he's sick, tired, hot/cold, or sad. He will NEVER admit to it and if he is teetering on any emotion linked to the truth of the matter he will unleash HECK on you for almost making him get emotional about it. Grace is 1 1/2 and could care less that I was gone. Every baby I saw regardless of ethnicity reminded me of her and I would threaten to find the next flight home. If I got real emotional I threatened to strap on my tennis shoes and run home to them. Reality check- I'm on the other side of the country 3 time zones away, out of shape, and was winded by the 2nd giant hill I climbed. If this was hard I'm thinking the Rockies might pose a problem for my endurance. Alright, head back to the hotel, good workout. Thank goodness for cell phones, and picture/video mail. Again, I digress, this has now become about the kiddies.

Did some good work, learned a lot more about the marriage education movement, feel empowered that the work we are doing is good and essential to healthy families. I'm so glad my dear friend Tonya was there with me to commisserate on being gone from our babies. Our laughter and the people we met and observed helped me pass the time. I ate crab, halibut and avacado in my challenge to try new things. Cold turkey quit pop. I got back to our church weight loss challenge and I had LOST 4 pounds. Big step for me and I didn't feel like I was "dieting". Now I digress into my weight loss challenge subject. Another time, another channel.

I didn't leave my heart in San Francisco, I left it in Parma Michigan. Gross. I had to end it in a cheeseball way since I started that way.

Kirk Cameron and My Fireman Drew

I'm a fan of Firemen (especially my own personal fireman Drew), Kirk Cameron (the first boy to make my heart start racing), and I'm also a fan of marriage and good marketing. So when I was at the SmartMarriages Conference in San Francisco in July I was drawn to the booth with wedding rings making the OO's in FIREPROOF. Kirk Cameron, my earliest crush, is the star- I'm sold...

I was really drawn in because at Marriage Matters Jackson we have been working on the idea for a long time to take our marriage workshops to the fire departments around Jackson County. Since Drew is a firefighter in Parma and Spring Arbor I was extra intrigued in combining firemen and marriage! As I got talking with the people from FIREPROOF I found out it was a movie, produced by the people who did "Facing the Giants" a few years back.

I was able to preview the movie FIREPROOF at the conference and I'll be honest, I was a bit skeptical about how good it was going to be because it was given the constant disclaimor of "Christian Content". I assumed that meant lacking in budget and abundant with cheese. To my great surprise and delight I truly enjoyed the movie and the powerful message of marriage, it's complexities and the importance of forgiveness and healing. I laughed and I cried. Don't overexpect because I think people ruin movies with over the top reviews. Please underexpect like I did then you're pleasantly surprised with how much you like it. But I DO recommend that everyone go and see this movie.

There is a book they use in the movie that is coming out along with the movie premier in late September that is a great companion to the marriage message. I'm hoping to find a way to use it in my work with Marriage Matters Jackson. People are hungry for marriage support and something positive to encourage keeping things healthy and weathering life's storms together.

A group from Trinity Wesleyan got it to come to Jackson but I couldn't help because it competes with an event we are already doing for Marriage Matters on September 26th. I will be going and taking as many friends as possible that opening weekend. So check out their website that I have linked here and go see this movie!