Once Upon a Time

I know this will shock some of you...but I like to think of myself as a bit of a Princess.  I always have.  In my mind, I would marry my Prince shortly after he saved me from something.  Death...destruction...something...anything.  It just so happens that my Prince saved me from failing macro-economics.  Whatever...he saved me.  However...that was after he married me. 

What is she talking about? 

My love...Coach.

For Christmas this year, my dear Coach got me a Kindle touch.  Because that is what I specifically asked for.  Specifically meaning, I sent him a picture in an email and told him how much, where he could get it and how much I would LOVE to have it. 

After I got over the surprise of getting exactly what I asked for...I loaded a book.  The very first book I loaded onto my sweet Kindle touch was this. 



I have a slight obsession with the Pioneer Woman.  Don't think I am crazy.  She is awesome.  I have a few friends who I KNOW will agree.  Sista included. 

Okay...and my obsession didn't come until AFTER I read this book.  Sure, I'd heard of her.  She was a blogger.  She was also a photographer and super fabulous cook.  So I had no interest in reading her blog.  She takes incredible pictures and makes meals without burning them.  Not only are they not burnt, but they are good.

But this book intrigued me.  I don't know if it is that I went through a cowgirl phase in the 8th grade and thought I could relate?  Or that she is a blogger and has written a book which is one of my lifetime goals.  But for whatever reason, I started reading this book and could NOT put it down.  Coach even threatened to take my Kindle back to the store if I didn't start incorporating some other things into my reading time.  Right...right.  I think this is why I am not much of a reader during this stage of my life.  I get addicted.  I get completely hooked and can't stop.  I read the Twilight Series in a week.  All four books.  I remember trying to wipe Little's face off while reading and wiping the back of his head instead of the front.  It is bad.  I can admit.

But this book was amazing.  Let me tell you why.

The Pioneer woman, lived a very normal pre-married life.  She fell in love and this book tells of their love story.  I won't bother you with the details as I'll spoil the whole experience for you. 

What I will tell you is that this book is changing my marriage. 

Coach and I have been together for 13 years.  We have lived in this house for 11.  I have driven two minivans in the time that Coach has had the same white truck.  We bought it when I was pregnant with Big.  We watch the same shows...eat the same food...and go to the same activities.  Those of our three darling children. 

Life had become a bit...dull.

We love each other very much.  But we love each other when we have time to notice each other.  When we aren't passing each other in the hall or using texting as our main source of communication. 

In reading this book, I started to remember how we fell in love.  I started to remember all of the things that made me fall deeply and madly in love with him in the first place.  That one year when we were just "us".  Times when we were able to pick up and go without any hesitation.  When we couldn't wait to see each other on weekends that I came home from college. 

The more I read, the more I felt them.  The butterflies.  They were back.  All of the memories of our past came rushing in and I remembered things about he and I that I had completely forgotten.  We aren't just a Mom and a Dad.  We aren't just a Coach and a Referee of 3.  We are us.  Somewhere along the way, we had forgotten to nurture that. 

It isn't too late.  We hadn't gotten so far from one another that we were falling away from us.  But we could feel it.  I know I could.

And now...thanks to this amazing blog writer, photographer, cook, marriage saver...we are better than ever. 

Getting married is easy.  STAYING married is not.  So many times, life gets difficult.  Times get tough.  Things happen that bring us to our breaking point.  And then something bigger intervenes and brings you back to the moment when you felt butterflies.  I am so grateful to God for giving me such a special man in my life.  I am so grateful for the Pioneer Woman and her love story with the Marlboro Man.  I am so grateful for my Kindle...and for my Coach. 

I love you babe...so, so much.

See y'all next time!  (That is with a real southern ranch style accent.)
Referee of 3