I am not gluten sensitive, but our daughter has celiac disease. This has caused me to try GF recipes from time to time in order to still cook for her when she visits.
She mentioned to me that she made an amazing Chicken Parmesan dish that was as delicious as it was crispy. I couldn’t believe it because usually GF frying turns out mushy; not this recipe! And I’m so excited.
On top of this I found a fresh, vibrant marinara sauce to serve with it. I chose to sauté the tomato paste in a medium fry pan before adding it to the food processor. This gave the paste a much richer flavor.
The good news is Tom loved it, which means we have a new favorite. 🥰
Note: I used chicken tenderloins instead of chicken breasts. This was to avoid pounding out the breasts in order to make them thin and tender enough. But tenderloins are more expensive, so it’s good to have options. You could also make this with regular breadcrumbs if gluten isn’t an issue for your family.
I’ll let the photos whet your appetite. Enjoy…
———————————-
Our hearts and prayers are with those in North Carolina and California who have lost homes, possessions and even family and friends due to floods and fires. It is heartbreaking to see the damage.
As we enjoy cooking and eating, it is sobering to remember there are many who long for such normalcy.
We are grateful you have taken the time to visit our vineyard today. Have a blessed weekend!
I remember as a child hearing of Ponce de Leon’s pursuit of The Fountain Of Youth. It was said to be somewhere in Florida, and it was told he spent his life trying to find it. But he never did for there is no such fountain. His story is most likely not true, yet it is intriguing all the same.
We love the idea of eternal youth. Our society spends millions of dollars convincing us that we can reverse the aging process if we’ll just buy their product.
Truth be told, we will all grow old. We will all have wrinkles. And we will all die–someday. But this truth doesn’t have to be morbid.
The adage is true, “You’re only as old as you feel.”
To be honest I’ve felt quite old lately, and many can relate. If youth is dependent on our feelings, then there are many young people who don’t feel their youth either.
Where am I going with this?
What if marriage was given a Fountain of Youth that kept our love vibrant and healthy?
What if we could only grow more in love as the years pass instead of facing a decaying relationship?
What if our relationship could experience ever-increasing intimacy?
It can, but there is no fountain to bathe in or no amazing product to purchase that can guarantee such success. However, there are keys that if used, will unlock a fountain of renewal day after day, year after year. And each of us possess these keys for Christ has tucked them away in our hearts the moment we became His.
Key #1:
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:1-4 ESV) Emphasis added.
Imagine how marriages, yours and ours, would be continually renewed if we were to each treat our spouse as being more important than ourselves. This is unselfishness on display, and it is what makes a marriage grow stronger through the years. There is no secret magic fountain, that would be too easy. Marriage is hard work. Marriage is continually preferring your spouse over your own interests. Marriage has no short-cuts to godliness.
Key #2:
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13 ESV) Emphasis added
We are each responsible for our own heart. We can’t change our spouse, but we can pray for them as if their heart was our own. God is the one who is at work in us using each and every hardship for His refining purposes. When facing difficulty our first thought should be, God what are you wanting to do in my heart? Having this attitude will help us make the most of every opportunity to grow and change. And as we do this, regardless of whether or not our spouse is on board, we will see change in our marriage.
It is a great temptation to compare our responsiveness to God with our spouse’s. May I encourage you from experience to not go there? This thought-process is used by the enemy of our soul to side-track our obedience. If he can’t keep us from doing right, he’ll work on getting us to compare ourselves with our spouse and puff us up with pride. Both disobedience and pride are sins which grieve the Father. We mustn’t allow it.
Key #3:
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (Philippians 2:14-16 ESV) Emphasis added.
Did you catch that? “All things“? Really? But what about the times when he doesn’t do what he said he would do? What about the times she disregards my advice? What about when his/her attitude is affecting my plans, my day, my attitude? What about…? You fill in the blank. Marriage never goes according to the idea we had when we stood face-to-face on the altar vowing our love and commitment to each other.
Marriage provides a continual well-spring, all right, but it’s not of eternal youth–it’s a well-spring of constant change, and the one who needs to change is me.
At least this is where my focus needs to be. If I would be as diligent in seeing my own lack as I tend to be in seeing my spouse’s lack, I guarantee my marriage would grow and mature.
How about you? Are you willing to take these three keys to unlock your own well-spring to renewal and change?
If you do, I’m quite certain a year from now your marriage won’t look the same as it does today. In fact, you may have other’s wondering if you’ve found a secret to marital happiness. When they ask you can smile and say, “I sure have, would you like to know where to find it?”
——————————
This post was originally shared in 2013, buts its truths are worth repeating; Thus the Vintage label. Like a vintage wine—it gets better with age.
It’s amazing how different this post hits me at 65 than it did at 54. I’m closer to being old and our marriage has gone through much, but it is still good.
We would love to hear from you to see if our blog is still having an impact on your marriage. We’ve been told that blogging is a dying medium, being replace by podcasts. But I’m a writer. I pray that we can still be used to write posts worth reading, even as the outlets change.
This week is the start of our church’s commitment to pray earnestly for 21 days. Tom and I decided we would add a regular prayer time to our morning Bible reading.
Praying together hasn’t been as often as we would like. We pray separately, but holding hands and agreeing in the name of Jesus each day is something in which we want to grow.
The Bible says that when two or more are gathered in His name, He (Jesus) is there with us.
Think of waking up and praying as a couple with the awareness that Jesus is holding our hands as we pray for “His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”
How has your spiritual journey been as a couple? Do you feel connected in your prayer life? Or is there a distance that makes prayer difficult?
This is a ploy of the enemy who wants nothing more than to disarm our prayers. Don’t let him do it.
May 2025 be the year where couples unite in prayer with Jesus in praying for His will to be accomplished. He is the One who receives the glory, but we are changed in the process.
We’ll close with the prayer Jesus modeled for us…
“This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’” Matthew 6:9-13 NIV
—————————————-
Thank you for being a part of our vineyard. We are praying for you and your marriage that this year will be one of growth together in intimacy with God and each other.
Shrimp and GritsPatty melt Mimosas with a frozen orange rosetteCharcuterieChristmas dinner of SauerbratenMexican Street TacosTraditional New Year’s Day mealHappy New YearMy Triple Cherry PieSausage Breakfast BiscuitHoneysuckle Biscuits
We are on the road home—full of good food and great memories. Happy New Year! We are grateful for you all.
It’s a good habit to pause at the beginning of a new year and reflect on the year before to help you make changes in the year ahead.
We encourage you to plan some undistracted time–no screens, no kids, no chores, no TV–and answer these all important questions. We pray it encourages you.
As you look back on 2024 ask yourself and your spouse the following:
1. What are the major highlights of the year?
2. What are your biggest victories? Your biggest disappointments?
3. What would you do differently if you had the chance?
4. How has your marriage grown?
5. What was your favorite date? Favorite dining experience? Favorite movie?
6. How have you grown in your relationship with the Lord?
7. What do you wish you could have done, but didn’t?
8. What are the three most encouraging words someone else said to you?
9. What are the three most encouraging words I said to you?
10. What did I do this year that makes you smile every time you think of it?
Now, looking forward to 2025, ask yourself and your spouse the following:
1. What do you want to continue doing this year that you were doing last year?
2. What do you want to stop doing this year?
3. What one word, if any, do you plan to focus on for growth? How can I help you?
4. What devotional are you planning to do? (We highly recommend choosing from the hundreds available on the YouVersion app)
5. What is one area you would like to see me improve in this year?
6. Is there something I have been putting off around the house that you would love to see completed?
7. What 3 couples can we pursue this year in an effort to encourage them or glean wisdom from them?
8. What would be the best way to make this happen?
9. How important are date nights to you? How can we make these a regular part of our year?
10. What trips would you like to plan for just us or for the family?
May God help you connect the dots of His faithfulness to you and your marriage in 2024. And wherever there is great disappointment, may He fill your heart with faith to believe, change and grow in 2025.
Tom’s Dad is German and Sauerbraten is his absolute favorite dish. I’ve never cared for German food and assumed I would not like this. Since it’s usually very expensive I was hesitant to order it.
A first for Jason making this, he was worried it would not turn out well. The process took 3 days, but the results were outstanding.
Our wine of choice was Daou, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles. It paired well as the full bodied roast matched the bold flavors of Daou.
It’s coming togetherStirring the gravy
It does our hearts well seeing our son enjoy cooking for those he loves. I am grateful we were seated at his table this Christmas.
“Cooking is an expression of love from the heart to the table.”
We hope you’ll try this recipe in the new year. You won’t regret the effort.
——————————
What a year it has been. If you’d like to be sure and not miss a single post in the new year, please subscribe via email.
We are grateful for allowing us to be a part of your story.
About now most of us have our shopping list completed or close to it. You may be like me, hoping Amazon comes through by the 24th.
But there is also an invisible package many of us have under our tree. Oh, we didn’t buy it, but we certainly wrapped it over and over hoping it would be perfect.
What is this invisible gift?
You’ll notice I didn’t call it a “gift”; Gifts are meant to bless the one who receives it. This package falls short of blessing us. It does much to promise us the best of everything, but never delivers as expected.
This box is packed full with expectations of our own making. We hang our highest hopes on what we think will make this a perfect holiday. From the beautifully wrapped gifts, to our kitchen overflowing with homemade delicacies. Every detail planned according to what I want.
It’s important to unwrap this package and diffuse it before the explosion of disappointment fills our homes.
I have found that time alone each morning with the Lord has done more to keep my focus on what matters than anything else. Remembering the words of the classic carols we sing every year will draw our focus upward and outward. This is the best defense against unrealistic expectations.
Our gift to you is this song set our church did this past Sunday. Take time to listen to the words and let the truths fill your heart and mind.
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 ESV
The name of this recipe isn’t appetizing. However, this is what the soup entails, so I kept it for clarity purposes.
I imagine most of you threw away what was left of your Thanksgiving turkey. I encourage you to file this recipe away to use next year, or try our suggestion at the end of this post.
Turkey carcass is only good for 5 days if kept refrigerated. Thankfully Tom and I managed to remember we wanted to try this recipe on day five.
This soup is an all day process which serves two purposes.
The first is you get the most out of your turkey. We bought an organic turkey this year which made it more cost effective and extra flavorful. Plus we got at least two different meals out of one bird.
The second purpose is as the stock is simmering on the stove, you get to enjoy the aroma filling the air!
I found this recipe on the Gonna Want Seconds food blog, and yes, this recipe lived up to the blog’s name. In fact I just had seconds for lunch today. Yum!
Tom and I tag-teamed making this soup.
I made the stock and set it on the stove to simmer 4-5 hours as suggested. I had an appointment the two hours before dinner, so Tom made the soup using the strained stock when it was ready.
It was delicious and fun that we both had a part in making dinner.
We served it with toasted sour dough bread some friends had given us and what a treat!
If you don’t want to wait for next year’s turkey, I believe you could make this using a whole chicken as well.
That’s it for now. We hope you made many memories over Thanksgiving week that you will cherish in the years to come.
Today I went to my daughter’s home, less than a mile away, to help her get her two kiddos down for a nap. I love that I can be there for her in these small, but important ways.
I had only an hour and a half before I had to go back to finish dinner prep and get to an appointment.
As I rushed home and did all the things…Tom opened the refrigerator and handed me my afternoon iced, cold brew coffee.
It was a moment that made me feel cared for in the smallest, but most important ways.
He knows me. He knows I love my iced coffee around 2:30 each day. He anticipated my rush and supplied what he knew I might forget.
What if we were intentional everyday to love our spouse in these smallest, yet important ways?
I believe it would soften the soil of our love causing intimacy to grow.
I felt it today. Have you?
——————————
Thank you for stopping by our vineyard. We hope you’ll return often and glean what’s needed to build up your marriage. No one should go it alone—this relationship is too important to wing it.
There was a moment this past week when I paused and soaked in the moment. I was enjoying something that for many years my aching heart had longed to experience.
All our kids and grandkids came home for Thanksgiving, my favorite holidayof the year.
There was only one problem…Our home is too small to sleep everyone.
Dear friends who live nearby provided the perfect solution—they allowed us to sleep in their guest room.
In the three full days they were here we went to the beach, took walks around the block, held baby Liliana, played with Elias and went thrift shopping.
The guys took in an Orlando Magic game one night, while we girls stayed home and played our favorite family game—Jack Box TV.
We shared delicious meals prepared with love—meat loaf, chicken pot pie and of course a Thanksgiving Dinner for 20.
We had two warm days which allowed the kids to go swimming jumping from the pool to the hot tub.
Their laughter filled our home and the echoes linger still.
These gatherings may be few and far between, but our hearts are connected 365 days a year—that’s a gift I don’t take for granted.
Our family of 5
As Advent begins, Tom and I are doing a daily devotional together by Paul David Tripp titled, Everyday Gospel, a Christmas Devotional.
We are praying this season will be intentional, growing in our love and appreciation for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
How will you make this Advent season one of connection and intimacy in your marriage?
———————————
Welcome to our new followers. We are happy to have you join our vineyard. Be sure to follow us on FB and Instagram.
May your Advent begin with renewed hope for your marriage and family.
I can’t remember when I discovered the difference between Quaker Oats and Irish Oats, but I’ve never looked back.
If you’re like me and don’t care for the texture of regular oatmeal, you’re going to love Irish Oats, also known as Steel Cut Oats.
They take longer to cook, but it is worth the wait. I usually make enough to have leftovers to reheat for another morning.
Ingredients:
Steel Cut Oats
Apples—cored, peeled and diced
Unsweetened coconut
Chopped pecans
Cinnamon
Brown sugar
Butter
Maple syrup (optional)
Directions:
Make oats according to package directions. Once water is boiling and oats are added and stirred, add apples, coconut and pecans and cook until all water is absorbed about 20 minutes.
Sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar according to taste.
Divide into bowls and top with a slice of butter and drizzle with maple syrup
That’s it! I find on cold mornings it helps to pour hot water into the bowls to heat them up. Pour water out and dry before serving up the hot Irish Oatmeal.
This is guaranteed to warm your soul.
————————
Thanks for stopping by our vineyard today. Next week is Thanksgiving in America. We will take the week off since all our kids and grandkids will be here for the week. This hasn’t happened in over 3 years. We are grateful to have this time.
May your Thanksgiving be filled with gratefulness for all God has done in your marriage.
When was the last time you took a look at your home with intimacy in mind?
I’m not talking sexual intimacy, that’s for another time. The intimacy I’m thinking of is a place to connect heart to heart.
If you have children at home this space is even more important to create.
Toys and school projects have a way of infiltrating every fiber of your home. This is why it is imperative for a healthy marriage to create your own space where you can connect.
A couple of nights ago Tom and I were overwhelmed by the good God is doing in our family. We went to one of our favorite spots set up for 2 and worshiped God. The songs chosen were ones that have carried us through some dark valleys. Being on this side of the trouble, worshiping God provided a release of gratefulness.
Difficult times will come.
Jesus promised that we would have trouble in this life. But He doesn’t stop there; He reminds us that He has overcome the world.
Our encouragement to you is to rethink your space. Find a couple of chairs, a small table, lamp or candle and add pillows and a blanket to have this intimate corner to retreat to as needed.
You can read the Bible or a good book together, worship God through music or just download about the day. Even if you only spend 15 minutes in this space a day, we guarantee it will provide fresh air for you both to breathe purpose and intimacy into your lives.
No marriage will thrive without this kind of intentionality.
Why not surprise your spouse and create your own special space today?
Your marriage will thank you.
—————————
We are grateful to all who find our Vineyard a place for help and hope in their marriage. Thank you for investing in the one relationship that reflects to the world the love God has for His church.
Life is busy. We wake up on Monday morning and hit the ground running. It is easy in the busyness to forget that which is of most importance—our relationship.
The holidays are here; Thanksgiving is next week for goodness sake!
How can we make the most of this season as husband and wife? We believe focusing on gratefulness is a great start.
Our human default is to complain about what’s not going as we want.
Let’s purpose instead to notice daily the things our spouse does or says that blesses us. Maybe even make a list and read it aloud to our spouse at some point on Thanksgiving.
This holiday is slowly being swallowed up between Halloween and Christmas, and it is by far my favorite holiday. I love the food, gathering together with friends and family and giving thanks to God for it all. It’s not just a day for football. It’s a day to notice God and thank Him for His love, presence and guidance all through the year.
Thanksgiving is a time to reset our focus from the busyness of life to what we deem most important.
Check out more ideas for husbands here and wives here to help you make the most of your Thanksgiving.
—————————————-
Welcome to our new followers. We are grateful you have joined us and are seeking to make your marriage the best it can be. This is the one relationship that lasts a lifetime and is worth the effort.
Have a great-full week,
Tom and Debi ❤️
(Photo courtesy of Christin Hume and Stephanie Klepacki, Unsplash)
We received a congratulations from WordPress this week. It was 17 years ago that we signed up to begin The Romantic Vineyard.
This post about a near miss we experienced is from November 2020. It is a good reminder for our marriage, but also to blogging.
Keeping our blog growing has been challenging, especially over the last 5 years. But by God’s grace we have kept plowing forward.
Life-long passions often wain. We have to be reminded why we started in the first place. The Romantic Vineyard has been a passion for us before it was ever born. It is meant to be a safe place to come, relax and enjoy the fruit of the vine in your marriage.
We are grateful to God that the near misses of the past 5 years have only fueled our commitment to keep going…one post at a time.
The following is a vintage post from 2020 that we pray will speak to your marriage today.
Near Miss
Sometimes we have a near miss and don’t even realize it, but not this time. I happened to be looking out our window at 35,000′ when a Southwest jet flew by our window going in the opposite direction. It was really close; Close enough that the pilots could have waved at each other as they passed.
It was a near miss that could have been tragic!
There are probably close to 200 passengers on our flight and most didn’t even see the jet; it happened so fast. But I saw it and for a second fear gripped me thinking of the “what if’s”. I’m tempted to ask the pilot about it as we exit the plane.
But God! He is the ultimate pilot of every circumstance we face. I don’t have to fear the “what if’s” because He is in control of my life. I trust Him.
What about the near misses we have in our marriage?
An unexpected conflict comes up out of the blue, and you have a choice to make: Swerve to avoid impact, or keep going full speed ahead. It happens so quickly that the impact can happen before you know it.
How many of us have memorized the emergency procedures set up on airplanes? If we’re honest, most of us tune out the instructions. If there were an actual emergency requiring the use of the various safety devices we would all struggle to remember what the flight attendant said before take-off. We would do well to pay attention.
The same applies to our marriages. Have you taken the time to consider the safety features of marriage?
Seat Belt – This is like our vows keeping us safely in place. You can’t wander off without making a conscious decision to undo the seatbelt.
Oxygen Mask – Sometimes the pressure changes drastically in your relationship. So much so that it takes your breath away. This is when it is good to pause and breathe fresh grace into your marriage. Give your spouse the benefit of the doubt. Don’t panic thinking the worst. You are on the same team and working to help each other through the crisis.
Flotation Device – Sometimes the crash is inevitable. It happens to the best of marriages, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end. Seek outside help when necessary. Trained counselors are there to come alongside you to help you make it safely back to solid ground.
Emergency Exits (marked by lights on the aisle) – God’s Word provides us with wisdom to know how to escape conflict. His Word promises to be a light to our path and a lamp to our feet (Psalm 119:105). All we must do is ask Him to show us the way, and He will!
Are you aware of the near misses in your marriage?
If so, thank God for His kindness in leading you and protecting you. Have you ended up in a devastating emergency you didn’t see coming? What did God show you through the crisis?
Emotional Intimacy Prompt – Plan time to answer the above questions. It is good to look back with thanksgiving for what God has done. And it is good to revisit past conflicts and learn from it to help you plan better for the next one.
Near misses are inevitable in this life. How we handle the emergency makes all the difference.
——————————
We have been away helping our daughter the past week, thus our absence here. But we never tire of telling you how grateful we are for your investment in your marriage. It is one they pays off for generations.
If you’ve been to Starbucks, you may have ordered their egg bites. A great choice for a GF breakfast or snack.
This week we are at our daughter’s home in GA. I wasn’t surprised to see that we had both found copycat recipes for these delicious bites.
I made them for the first time this morning. This recipe is on one of my favorite recipe sites: Once Upon A Chef.
I didn’t have the Gruyère cheese as recommended, but I was sure my grandkids wouldn’t care for it. I used cheddar instead and they turned out well.
Tom discovered a few that hadn’t set well. Since I used silicone muffin pans I was able to pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds. They were perfect.
These bites will last for 3 days in the refrigerator or 2 weeks in the freezer. A great breakfast for busy mornings.
And as a plus—you can switch out the ingredients according to your taste.
———————————-
Tom and I are heading out for a hike, while our grandkids are in school. I can’t remember the last time we did this.
Have a blessed weekend and why not plan something to surprise your spouse? It’s a privilege we shouldn’t take for granted.
We’ll be back next week with more help and hope for a healthy marriage.
Although the title sounds cliche’, there is no greater truth in marriage. Everything we do, think and say should be grounded in kindness.
Words grounded in the soil of kindness bear the fruit of love, joy and peace in your marriage.
It seems the longer we’re married the harder it is to be kind.
If we aren’t mindful of our words, we can easily be lazy and say things without much thought. And if we aren’t thinking before we speak there is danger we will not be kind.
It’s important to note—Kindness is a matter of the heart.
If you often say things with an air of irritation, your spouse may have grown used to it as normal. It’s best to examine our own heart first.
Ask the Lord to give you ears to hear how you’re speaking to your spouse. A tender conscience must be cultivated lest the soil of your heart should grow hard and resistant to change.
As humans our default is to be unkind. We must practice kindness or it will not thrive in our home.
Five examples to practice kindness today:
Anticipate what your spouse might need or want in the moment like an afternoon snack or favorite drink.
Rub your spouse’s shoulders or feet after a long day.
Text them an encouragement midday to let them know you’re thinking of them.
Pray for them specifically before they leave for work and tell them about it. Praying aloud is even better.
When they call or text answer with a cheerful attitude, rather than a frustrated tone for the interruption.
Today is Monday. Try at least one of these this week and watch how it changes the atmosphere in your relationship.
We thrive on encouragement and wilt without it. Let’s remember, kindness matters.
——————————-
Thanks for visiting our vineyard. We pray our posts are helpful and encouraging. May God bless your week as you practice kindness.
We have shared we you many times about foods we’ve enjoyed at restaurants. It’s fun to go home and learn how to make it ourselves.
Not this week. There is a restaurant located New Smyrna Beach that makes a dish so good it’s worth the drive to order it.
Yellow Dog Eats started in the small town of Gotha, outside of Orlando. The owner doesn’t know a stranger and his food is as lively as his comments.
When they opened their second location in our favorite beach town we had to give them a try.
What a find!
This is their back patio
On our last visit we were entertained by an adorable yellow lab who was scared of a puppy statue. (It was the featured photo on our last post about bugs.)
We ordered the Vegetarian Nachos that are so full of a variety of flavors it makes your tastebuds crave the next bite, no exaggeration!
Vegetarian Nachos
When our nachos arrived we forgot how spectacular they look. It took only seconds for us to dig in to the chopped grilled veggies, black beans, cherry peppers, Thai chili and pineapple salsa, cilantro lime avocado sauce, vegan chipotle aioli, and pickled onions and jalapenos on corn tortilla chips.
Now you see why there’s no way I’m going to replicate this recipe. But if you happen to live in Central Florida, Yellow Dog Eats is worth the drive to New Smyrna Beach.
Do you have a favorite dish worth the drive? We would love to hear about it.
———————————
Welcome to our new followers. We hope you’ll come back often. Oh, and introduce yourself if you’d like. We’d love to meet you.
This may sound like an unkind way to talk to your spouse, but it’s not what you think.
My husband learned early on in our relationship of my fear of palmetto bugs, aka roaches. If you don’t know what these are—Google it. There’s no way I will even include a photo on this topic. Just a photo makes my skin crawl! (Note: the cute dog photo above).
Growing up in Florida these large flying insects attacked me often. If there was one in the room it always, and I’m not exaggerating, came right for me.
Our first night staying at my parents together after our honeymoon was when Tom witnessed my fear.
We stayed up late waiting for my parents to go to bed to avoid the awkwardness of us going to bed together. We were young and it felt weird to sleep together in the room that was mine 5 days before.
Anyway, once we got in bed and turned off the lights, I screamed and jumped out of bed. I felt a roach crawling on me. Tom was sure it was my imagination since I had seen one earlier that night.
He calmly turned on the light and threw back the covers to show me there was noth…!!! And was he wrong!! There was huge palmetto bug in the bed with us. Ewww!! Needless to stay we both sat up in the living room the rest of the night.
Tom talked to me over and over about getting over my fear of these horrible bugs; To no avail.
After 45+ years of marriage, I am delighted to tell you that Tom has become the Bug Buster of our home. He buys the professional stuff from Do It Yourself Pest Control and treats our house inside and out and it works! We can go an entire year without a single bug making it alive in our home.
This is one of the best examples of how he cherishes me and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Because of Tom’s care for me in this regard I can honestly say I’m no longer bugged.
Who is the bug buster in your home? Or do you have other fears that your spouse protects you from facing?
———————————
Welcome to our Vineyard. We are happy you’ve joined the conversation on what it looks like to grow a healthy marriage. We began this blog in 2008. Take some time to browse through past posts and also check out our Romantic ideas for every holiday of the year. Oh, and please comment and introduce yourself.
It has been a long time since Tom and I have been able to volunteer to serve at an event with our church. But this past Saturday we actually signed up and were able to be there for Funtoberfest 2024.
There have been many reasons why we haven’t been available.
The most obvious one—we couldn’t expose ourselves to large crowds of people for our grandson, Elias’ sake. He was born immunocompromised during the COVID pandemic. When he was finally cleared from that, he was diagnosed with cancer in 2022. I’m happy to say that this year we have an all clear to serve.
You’ve heard it said that each marriage usually consists of one who says yes and one who more often says no. I am the yes person in our home, so having to say no so many times was hard on my heart.
Our church’s mission is to be a light to the world both locally and globally.
We have done both in the past and have loved every opportunity.
We have gone overseas a few times to The Netherlands, Ukraine and Nassau, Bahamas. We love getting to know friends in other cultures because it has shown us how alike we are.
When we serve others, our hearts are knit together in ways nothing else can.
Volunteering is costly. Your heart resonates with others’ stories connecting you to them in their time of need.
Our friends in Ukraine were staying with us the day the war began. Experiencing such a tragic event with them has made this war with Russia so much more personal. And our love for all Ukrainians too.
While we were passing out candy at our Candy Land decorated car, I said, “Welcome to Candy Land. Pick your two favorite candies!” The smiles said it all.
One mom and her son were obviously from another country based on their broken English. When I asked where the were from she said, “Ukraine!” My face lit up happy to meet them. The only thing I know how to say in Ukrainian is, “Slava Buho”, which translates to “Glory to God”. When I said this their faces lit up too. It was a connection that made the night special.
Volunteering together is a privilege that unites us in a common cause.
Have you volunteered together? We’d love to hear about it in the comments.
————————-
Welcome to our new followers. We pray you’ll find our posts helpful in growing a healthy marriage for “slava bulo”, glory to God!
How can something made with so few ingredients turn into something so delicious?
Flour. Yeast. Sugar. Salt. Oil. Water and Time.
My husband loves food. As a way to show my love for him I enjoy making things that he can smell baking or cooking long before he gets to taste it.
Since having COVID I realize now how precious these two senses are; I lost both my sense of taste and smell both times I had it. Thankfully it only lasted a short time.
Preparing bread is one of the most primitive experiences practiced since the world began.
If you have never made bread with your own hands, you are missing out. Kneading bread allows you to feel the flour transform from a dry heap to a lump of delicious potential. It’s your sense of touch that adds to the anticipation. (Unfortunately my hands were too sticky to snap a photo of this process.)
I found this French bread recipe at Mel’s Kitchen Cafe, and it has quickly become a family favorite.
Once pressed flat roll up tightly from the long side. Pinch seam tightly and put seam-side down when placed on the baking sheet.Slit tops with a sharp knife or razor blade, as shown
French bread is versatile in that you can use it for garlic bread, bruschetta, sub sandwiches, or simply sliced and slathered with lots of butter hot out of the oven (my favorite)!
As the home chef your ears will enjoy hearing your family’s oohs and aahs with their first bite.
How can one recipe have such a powerful impact on all the senses?
Touch. Smell. Sight. Taste. Hear.
If you decide to try it, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the process.
Man may not live on bread alone, but it sure makes life more enjoyable with every sense of the word.
———————————
Welcome to our new followers. We hope you find our posts helpful in growing a strong and healthy marriage. We are glad you’re here.
The Romantic Vineyard 