Well, how was Day 11 -- Date Your Mate night? Duane and I went out for dinner and a movie. He loves to go to the movies and tells me all the time, 'especially with you.' So, of course, I want to go to the movies, too :) He goes with his buddies to catch the hard-core action films because they only exhaust my adrenaline stores!
Okay, for today...
DAY 12: TO A GREAT MARRIAGE - Take the Day Off!
Since today is the weekend, and hopefully you have planned a fun activity for today already from Day 10, consider today a day off from additional suggestions. Just enjoy the day!
Just like we have to let the bread rise, the paint set, the hair color do its job, today is a day for all you've done up to this point to settle, and take root. You've planted, watered, weeded, now give it a rest.
Believe it or not, this is one of the steps, if you will, on the road to a Great Marriage.
Tomorrow is an important day.
See you then,
If you have been following along on this 31 Days to a Great Marriage adventure, especially Day 10 - and Day 9 -- Take Time for Yourself, then you are hopefully finding a new sense of the importance of 'us' time together. A regular date night is one of the things Duane and I have found to be 'just what the doctor ordered' at the end of a long week.
We were told by our doctor years ago, because of our very busy schedules and work loads, that we should be taking 10 days off for a vacation every 3 months. I remember thinking, "what? are you kidding me? who has that kind of time (or money)?" Well, we have not been able to follow those instructions, though we do try to vacation every summer and work in a few short stay-cations' a year, but, we have found weekly date nights to be some of the 'medicine' we need. :)
So, I want to encourage you to consider doing the same...
DAY 11: TO A GREAT MARRIAGE - Date Your Mate!
Of course everyone's schedule is different, with kids and everything, but the first thing you and your spouse should do is decide to make Date Night a priority, and then schedule them in on your calendar each week, and then do them.
This may also require looking at your budget for babysitting money, as well as the cost of the date itself, but Date Night does not have to cost a lot of money. Again, The Happy Wives Club, have some ideas, and a great article on the 'benefits' of dating your mate at GoodNewsFl.
So, that's it! Talk with your spouse, mark your calendars, and if you can...start tonight! Friday night is our Date Night, and I'll be thinking about you...and praying that your date night will be just what the Great Physician has ordered just for you two :)
Hi everyone!
The weekend is just around the corner - are you anticipating it...or dreading it? You may have kid's games, other family or volunteer responsibilities, a major house project, guests coming that you have to get ready for, et al.
One thing I (finally) learned was that having something fun planned for the weekend ahead of time, however big or small, pushes on my anticipation button and helps me see and deal with all the responsibilities that lie ahead with a better attitude. It is amazing how much anticipation can energize and motivate us.
As we talked about yesterday Day 9 -- Take Time for Yourself, will help re-energize you to go through not just your day, but your week and weekend with greater ease.
So, as simple as it is, I encourage you to...
DAY 10: TO A GREAT MARRIAGE - Plan Ahead for Fun!
Beginning today, plan your weekend(s) with one fun thing to do with the family, (even if it is just you and your husband), regardless of how packed the schedule may be with responsibilities.
There are loads of benefits:
-It will be a needed diversion for you and your husband.
-It will be fun!
-It will push the anticipation button for everyone.
-It will model important things to your children.
-It will add a little more 'glue' to your family.
-It will bond you and your husband closer in your parenting.
I could go on, but here's an article you might find helpful, "Taking Back the Family Weekend," that has some good things to say about making over your family weekend time to include more fun and relaxation.
And, for a few ideas of fun things to do, check out iMOM for 14 Fun Weekend Family Activities.
Deliberate planning is more than a smart thing to do :)
You've made it to Day 5 -- Congratulatons!
Before we get to today's suggestion, how did you do with Day 4? -- Carving out time after dinner and the kids are in bed, et al., to talk about fond memories you have about the day you met, your first date, your wedding day -- reminiscing together. If you are following and employing each day's suggestions, by now you are beginning to see some of the results, both within yourself and with your husband.
It's time now to...
DAY 5: TO A GREAT MARRIAGE - Relax Together
That's right. Do whatever is relaxing for you, for him, together. Is it being a couch-potato for a few hours? Sitting on the patio with something to drink or snack on? Taking a walk? Whatever it is, do it, and allow for a minimum of an hour, but longer will yield even more benefits.
This is time for a pressure-free time together, even and especially in conversation. In other words, no talk about work, or finances, things that need to be done, or heavy issues - save it for tomorrow! Today, just hang out and relax. That's it!
Resist the temptation to think, say or decide that you can't afford the time. Yes you can! You have to make time. Besides, you need it. After all, God said Sunday's should be 'a day of rest.'
I'm just saying :)
