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Let me preface this by saying, no, I’ve never cheated physically or emotionally on Southern Hubby. I was having one of the many types of extramarital affairs threatening today’s marriage that don’t fall under that traditional “physical love affair.” However, they are just as detrimental to a marriage as a physical or emotional affair. The ones that have been identified are:
A. Activity/Hobbies Affair: These affairs happen when your hobbies and activities take a lot of the focus off you and your husband. Book clubs, knitting, sewing, and quilting circles all are good things, and deserve merit. But do they take up too much of your time?
This type of affair can also involve things that are in fact virtuous and pleasing to the Lord. For example, volunteering and participating in church activities are wonderful and can breathe life into you spiritually. But when they occupy the majority of your thoughts, stress you out, and keep you away from your duties at home, then it’s time to take a step back and reevaluate all of your obligations. Your first obligations should be to God and then your husband.
Wishing you had things that you don’t not only wastes your time, but it can also make your husband feel like he is not providing for you. Of all the things a wife can do to her husband, not showing him respect or making him feel inadequate is by far the worst.
In the consumer world we live in, it is very easy to fall into this trap. Don’t let yourself be fooled. It is not the things that surround us that make us happy, but the people that love us.
If you are a homemaker, this shouldn't be an issue for you. If you are still working outside your home, please do not get into an affair with your job. No one needs you more than your husband. Those faxes can wait until morning. Does that email need to be sent right now? No. But will your marriage suffer because you are constantly putting these things ahead of your man? Absolutely.
If this sounds like you, I urge you to pray and think about the reasons you are working. For me, it was the luxuries the extra money afforded us. I wanted to travel and spend and buy and me, me, me. We didn’t need my teacher’s salary to live comfortably. We’re doing fine right now. Can I shop every weekend like I used to? No. Can we take 2-3 trips each year anymore? No. But I’m secure in knowing that I’m right where God wants me to be: in my home, serving my wonderful husband, and creating a welcoming environment for us to live in. To me, that’s worth more than anything I could buy.
In the next part of the series, I’ll pick up with three more types of affairs that can affect your relationship with your husband. And we’ll also look a little bit into why these affairs happen.
Hope you have a great rest of the week!
. They came out so very good!
," I found out that Southern Hubby's love language is Acts of Service. He feels most loved when I do the thing that need doing, when I'm not being lazy around the house. He likes to feel taken care of. Well, being a housewife, I think that should be pretty easy! But sadly, I can get lost in doing things for the house and not necessarily him.
If you've been a reader for a while, you'll probably remember 
This year, I decided to send my usual cookie coupons. They were a hit last year, so I included them again. I also went to Starbucks and bought the 'design your own' 
For other ideas, I also put a cute little frame I got from Hobby Lobby, some popcorn bags, 
They got them the other day and loved them! I had so much fun putting them all together and hope to make more soon. Now I'm waiting to get those cookie coupons in the mail... 
We'll remember.
My husband does not feel superior to me because I like to call myself, Mrs. Southern Hubby. He doesn't see me as his object or possession. That's absurd. If you are worried that your husband views you like this, then you have bigger problems than salutations. A good marriage is one of mutual respect. A man feels love through respect. Plain and simple. Shaunti Feldhahn, author of "
This past Saturday, Southern Hubby and I went to our volunteer orientation to start volunteering at our local SPCA. I should have known that I could not have left there without saving a baby. I should have known this. But I thought I would be a bit stronger. After all, I plan on volunteering weekly and I can't leave with a baby every time! But when we went on the tour of the facilities, a nervous white ball of cotton in the far corner caught my eye. As I got closer, through the tears forming in my eyes, I saw a small, weak Maltese with the face of my baby Jackson (Southern Puppy.) I looked closer and he was terrified so much that he was shaking uncontrollably. SH came up behind me and the poor baby turned to face the wall. He was too scared to even look us in the eye. Right then and there, I knew I had to bring him home. It was obvious this baby had never seen love before.
Please pray that this little baby will open up to us and realize that we are only here to love him and not mistreat him like he was used to in his previous life. He's such a sweet little angel and will fit in well once he knows he can trust us.
Thanks for listening to me rant. Y'all know how passionate I am about animal rights and it just breaks my heart to see people buying sweet babies from these kind of backyard breeders, and they aren't made aware of what kind of operation their money is going to. You can get a pure bred puppy just as easily in an adoption shelter. Ours is pure bred Maltese. :) 
PS- He still needs a name!!! We decided not to keep his previous name, Arkansas #61 (how sad is that?!). Any suggestions are welcome!!!
Tonight we'll go to dinner at the restaurant he took me to for our first date. I can't wait. Now I have to find something pretty to wear. Yay! Here are just a couple of pictures from the big day. Enjoy! :)
