Love and Marriage

And another thing. Love is temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion, it is not the desire to mate every second of every minute of the day. No, don't blush, I am telling you some truths. That is just being "in love," which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two. 

                                        -- Excerpt from Corelli's Mandolin
                                            A Novel by Louis de Bernieres.

I haven't read the book, but the quote was shared with us during an early-marrieds session at my church.  It's a new group of couples that have been married ten years or less. We've been meeting once a month hearing testimonies from other couples who have been married much longer than we have. It has been very interesting -- and helpful.

Last week, they quoted this excerpt from Corelli's Mandolin and it just caught my heart strings a little bit. "We had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two." Isn't that the neatest visual of love? of marriage?

If I could draw, I would sketch this out for you. But I can't draw a stick figure much less a tree. The idea that my husband and I are growing, intertwining, and becoming one as we make the effort to learn about each other, spend time together, and go through the tough stuff together is precious.

Isn't that the point of marriage? To become one. That can't happen overnight. It takes time and even effort. I know there is much more that could be said on the topic of marriage but I really just wanted to share this quote with you, so I'll leave it at that for now.

To love and marriage . . . and inseparable and intertwined trees

And another thing. Love is temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion, it is not the desire to mate every second of every minute of the day. No, don't blush, I am telling you some truths. That is just being "in love," which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two. 

                                        -- Excerpt from Corelli's Mandolin
                                            A Novel by Louis de Bernieres.

I haven't read the book, but the quote was shared with us during an early-marrieds session at my church.  It's a new group of couples that have been married ten years or less. We've been meeting once a month hearing testimonies from other couples who have been married much longer than we have. It has been very interesting -- and helpful.

Last week, they quoted this excerpt from Corelli's Mandolin and it just caught my heart strings a little bit. "We had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two." Isn't that the neatest visual of love? of marriage?

If I could draw, I would sketch this out for you. But I can't draw a stick figure much less a tree. The idea that my husband and I are growing, intertwining, and becoming one as we make the effort to learn about each other, spend time together, and go through the tough stuff together is precious.

Isn't that the point of marriage? To become one. That can't happen overnight. It takes time and even effort. I know there is much more that could be said on the topic of marriage but I really just wanted to share this quote with you, so I'll leave it at that for now.

To love and marriage . . . and inseparable and intertwined trees

The Jungle

I heard about this book back in high school, where my English teacher told us we would never want to eat a hotdog again if we ever read it. I didn't read it.

But a few weeks ago I was trying to think of  a few free books I could download to my e-reader app on my phone and this title came to mind. I'm not sure why but I thought, "I should read that." Maybe I was just finally tired of hotdogs?!

Let me just say that the whole story is sad. I was heartbroken reading about the immigrant family moving from Lithuania only to find life in America much harder than they thought possible. The working conditions were awful. I mean awful. Living paycheck to paycheck seems like an understatement. And the things this family had to go through in attempting to own a home were so painful to read. Seriously, I told Chris I never wanted to own a home after reading this story. The family never catches a break . . . and it breaks them.

The book is more well known for its revealing the lack of sanitary practices in packaging meat products in the early 1900s. Which trust me, it did. Even with today's standards you have to question what is really done to packaged meat. But that seemed like the back story to me. Sinclair did actually go undercover and work in a meat packing plant in Chicago while writing the series for a newspaper. Later it was turned into a novel. The real issue and reason behind his story was the lack of care for the workingman by these big corporations and the government. There was a huge gap between the upper and lower classes. The corporations often being corrupt and exuding power over the lower class in every way possible.

The end of the book takes a different turn as the main character gets more involved with politics and gets to see things from a different perspective. He becomes very active in Socialism and that is where we are left. This man who has lived through so many awful things and lost everything dear to him is given a hope that things can be different and better.

Isn't it amazing what can change in 100 years? Or not change? There are still families trying to make it in America. There are still large gaps between the classes and corruption everywhere. There is still talk of Socialism verses Democracy.

I never felt like I was reading a historical story, it very well could be happening in today's factories. Although unions seem to be a bit stronger than they were back then. The idea of living paycheck to paycheck to pay for what you dream of owning, like a home, is still very much a reality for many Americans.

Have you read The Jungle? What were your thoughts?

I heard about this book back in high school, where my English teacher told us we would never want to eat a hotdog again if we ever read it. I didn't read it.

But a few weeks ago I was trying to think of  a few free books I could download to my e-reader app on my phone and this title came to mind. I'm not sure why but I thought, "I should read that." Maybe I was just finally tired of hotdogs?!

Let me just say that the whole story is sad. I was heartbroken reading about the immigrant family moving from Lithuania only to find life in America much harder than they thought possible. The working conditions were awful. I mean awful. Living paycheck to paycheck seems like an understatement. And the things this family had to go through in attempting to own a home were so painful to read. Seriously, I told Chris I never wanted to own a home after reading this story. The family never catches a break . . . and it breaks them.

The book is more well known for its revealing the lack of sanitary practices in packaging meat products in the early 1900s. Which trust me, it did. Even with today's standards you have to question what is really done to packaged meat. But that seemed like the back story to me. Sinclair did actually go undercover and work in a meat packing plant in Chicago while writing the series for a newspaper. Later it was turned into a novel. The real issue and reason behind his story was the lack of care for the workingman by these big corporations and the government. There was a huge gap between the upper and lower classes. The corporations often being corrupt and exuding power over the lower class in every way possible.

The end of the book takes a different turn as the main character gets more involved with politics and gets to see things from a different perspective. He becomes very active in Socialism and that is where we are left. This man who has lived through so many awful things and lost everything dear to him is given a hope that things can be different and better.

Isn't it amazing what can change in 100 years? Or not change? There are still families trying to make it in America. There are still large gaps between the classes and corruption everywhere. There is still talk of Socialism verses Democracy.

I never felt like I was reading a historical story, it very well could be happening in today's factories. Although unions seem to be a bit stronger than they were back then. The idea of living paycheck to paycheck to pay for what you dream of owning, like a home, is still very much a reality for many Americans.

Have you read The Jungle? What were your thoughts?

Let the cookies do the talking

When I found out that we were expecting, I wanted to find creative ways to tell people. We ended up telling everyone in different ways. I think the way I told my co-workers was the most creative by far.

 

 

I purchased the cookie cutters in the shape of a onesie and a baby carriage from Amazon, made sugar cookies and then decorated them with blue and pink frosting. Most of them made it to work without too much damage.

I've never been very patient with frosting but I decided I wanted to give it my best shot, and take up the whole night if I had to. And it actually wasn't that bad. I watched a video online which helped calm my nerves, and other than my frosting getting a little too thin (I think it was too warm) at the end, it went very well. I have to say they turned out better than I could have hoped.

My co-workers loved them! And I didn't even have to voice my announcement, they could guess just by looking at the cookies! And they were thrilled.

When I found out that we were expecting, I wanted to find creative ways to tell people. We ended up telling everyone in different ways. I think the way I told my co-workers was the most creative by far.

 

 

I purchased the cookie cutters in the shape of a onesie and a baby carriage from Amazon, made sugar cookies and then decorated them with blue and pink frosting. Most of them made it to work without too much damage.

I've never been very patient with frosting but I decided I wanted to give it my best shot, and take up the whole night if I had to. And it actually wasn't that bad. I watched a video online which helped calm my nerves, and other than my frosting getting a little too thin (I think it was too warm) at the end, it went very well. I have to say they turned out better than I could have hoped.

My co-workers loved them! And I didn't even have to voice my announcement, they could guess just by looking at the cookies! And they were thrilled.