I am just getting used to this blog stuff, I know I am way behind in the times and by the time I complete all the posts that I would like to, there will be a new way to do something like this, but oh well. I have no idea if anyone will look at our site but it is fun to put together. I have two blogspots I tend to follow rather closely, that is all I can seem to find time for, but it is always fun to look them up and read a new post, so our hope is between the two of us we can keep this going with fun and interesting stuff! I can guarentee that Matt's post will be way different than mine, so that will keep you on your toes!
I thought I would start with the past and move forward. So from the beginning...
Matt and Marianne - 1995
12 years of ups and downs, adventures and hardships, joys and pains... you all know of this, right??? Anyway, here we are in our twelth year still struggling with the same things from our first year, plus a few others... but still finding ways to make the best of life and trying to not take each day for granted although that is sooo hard. Agree?? My husband, as those of you who know him, is the hardest working man EVER. He takes his job, his marriage, his fatherhood, his friendships, his relationship with God, his love of baseball, and his commitment to exercising (i am sure there is more) very seriously... works hard on all of the above. I am everyday thankful that I have a husband who finds it important to "workout" all of these things, always trying to be better, to make things the best they can be. Albeit, I don't always like where his work has led him but I am certain that it is better than having a husband who doesn't care or try to make things better.
After a life of studenthood from UT, to UMass, to UNC, we find ourselves in our second year in the "real world". He is currently in his forth semester as a professor at Roanoke College. This semester he has added new courses and although he sometimes is "all over the place", I know that he is one of the best professors there. I got to go to one of his physics classes last year and even though I have not one clue of what he was talking about, I found the class highly interesting because he was having so much fun teaching it. He really has a heart to make physics and astronomy something that the students get and love.
On top of all he does at the college, he is one of the world's best dads! He is very engaged in our children's lives. The current "daddy" time is in front of the computer building zoo's on Zoo Tycoon. Any of you addicted? It is so fun to hear him and the kids talk about whether they need a savanah grassland or a deciduous floor or can we get two females and one male so we can have more baby bengel tigers?? it is great!
So, I guess this post is a tribute to Matt, to this Dad, to my Husband. I have to admit that sometimes I question God's plan in bringing us together and sometimes I think surely this is not what a marriage is about but then God gently reminds me that no marriage is perfect, no person is perfect and Hey Marianne, wake up and look at what you two have done and accomplished and survived Together. Is this something you all question at times, how do you get past it??
I hope people will respond to our posts, not just this one but any that they feel like, I think that is what is fun about blogspots! And in the meantime, you wives find the good things your husbands do and be thankful, and not just thankful like I tend to be, which is in the inside without saying something to Matt, but be outwardly thankful, this is what I am trying to be better at this year. My New Years Resolution.... what's yours??
1997 of November, we found Nell on the curviest of roads in the middle of the mountains. We immediately took to her. Her spirit was so sweet and she was so obedient. She was the perfect dog for first time animal owners, Matt and Marianne. Even though we gave many close friends the oppurtunity to have Nell for their own, no one claimed her and so she became ours. Although, through the years many friends and family members took Nellie to be their own and took care of her and loved her as much as we did. She turned grey thru the years but she never lost her puppy spirit of pounding after balls, digging for roots, cleaning out streams of all their sticks. She had our kids hearts as she would allow them to pull, tug, cuddle, dress up, ect. They would build cages and pretend she was a wild panther, they would feed her treat after treat just to get her to do a fancy trick like stand up, but the most fun was laying in the floor and allowing nell to jump over us, seeing how high she would go. She really was the ideal dog and we would like to think that she lived a great life! She got to go on many adventures and met many folks along the way that spoiled her rotten! She probably ruined any other animals chances of surviving in the fleenor household but I am sure we will try again. Many of you knew and cared for nell and may not know that she passed away this Thanksgiving. We found it so interesting that we found her 10 years ago over thanksgiving weekend in Tennessee and she left us Thanksgiving weekend while we were in Tennessee. It was hard on all of us who were there. As I go through pictures I will probably post more of her and even some movies because she is in so many. We are missing her now and hopeful that one day we may find another animal that can take her place but we are waiting for now... we are having issues keeping our goldfish for now. Anyway, if you knew Nell and would like to share your favorite memory of her I think it would be neat for all of us but especially for her best friends : Anna Clare, Boone and even Eliza (who was terrified of Nell for a long time ). Heres to the "best dog in world", not just a quote from us but from many....
