One Hour Of Bliss!

As we began our home school journey, I knew that I would be having to spread myself between four childrens' needs (and my husbands too) every day, and that this would leave me with not as much time to spend with my husband. Marriage can be like that sometimes can't it? Two adults caught up in their own worlds, sometimes passing like ships in the night? 

Marriage is a relationship, a friendship that is worth making an effort for.

 I began thinking and praying of a way that we could make sure that we still had some time together, just the two of us. In fact, as I began thinking and praying about it, I realised that I was actually quite desperate for some time with just my husband - all to myself, alone, uninterrupted, free, did I mention all to myself? Our husbands are busy men, and they loose sight of, (just like us wives can) of the importance of just being together.

God in His faithfulness, almost immediately, dropped a thought into my mind that I knew would work beautifully for us! We have no family living close by and so we can't regularly leave the home to be by ourselves. His solution is perfect (as they always are!) 

He gave me the idea of spending one whole hour together every Sunday afternoon. And so we have begun this now and have enjoyed it for three Sundays so far! It's nothing fancy at all; we make a coffee, sometimes grab a snack and give the children strict instructions not to interrupt unless it's a safety issue (they are inside watching a movie, or reading or drawing - there is NO going outside or answering the door during this time though).

I tell you - it's one whole hour of bliss! We talk, we laugh, plan, hug, smooch, and share our lives with each other. Seriously, only three weeks of this regular one hour block of time (as we do get to chat through the week too) and we have grown so much closer together already! God is so good how He provides ways to prioritise things that are so important! 

This hour is something that I know I love (and so does my man) and we both are really looking forward to this time together by the end of the week. Church, family lunch, and a whole hour together! What a great way to spend a Sunday! 

I'm so grateful that we serve a God who is a God of relationships! People are everything to Him. People are who He came and died for! 

We don't have to wait for the abundant life that He provides us until we get to Heaven, it's for here and now!

Relationships are here and now! 

And I love my God so much for His answer to this prayer in our life. He is so good!

Could you see this being something that you would enjoy in your marriage too?!  Do you already practise this, or something similar?

I really can't wait until Sunday!

Family Friendly Wednesday: Our Date Night ... Finally!

We finally went on a date night! It's been months! My mum very kindly came up for a visit to look after the kids for us (which they were ecstatic about!) and we set off on our date.

 

It was just so good to have this man all to myself.

 

You know what I mean. You love your kids but sometimes it's nice to have a conversation that is not interrupted by questions like, "Do you know how to say 'How are you' in Latin?" or "You know that song, like that one that we sung a few months ago ... ?" or "Can we please open up the new packet of toothbrushes because this one is leaving little bits in my mouth?" (What is it with kids and new toothbrushes anyway?! I brought some out shopping the other day and left them on the bathroom counter to open later, and Little Miss P saw them and excitedly exclaimed, "Thank you sooooo much mummy! New Toothbrushes!!" ... I just don't get it!)

 

And if it's not kids and questions it's phone calls. "Hello I'm calling you about this top of the range ... " No thanks! Or a work phone call or extended family (you know the ones that you love, but they always have the worst timing to call!), or the school or it's texts messages galore!

 

Not to mention the normal day to day things that must be done, work etc. and pretty soon you're left absolutely craving your man and some time away from responsibility to just enjoy your relationship. Just to have fun, chat, laugh, plan and dream. (also to not cook and clean up after a meal!)

 

Well, I finally had this time with MR S. It was really really really nice!

 

When we were dating, and living in a different suburb, our 'dating spot' was a gorgeous old-fashioned drive-in that we would frequent almost weekly. We would enjoy fish and chips and maltezers (you always have to have maltezers!) ... they were lovely days.

Now that we have moved 'out into the sticks', there is not as much choice for date night 'adventures'.

 

However, this last date night saw us creating a new tradition. We found a new restaurant that we love, and a new chatting spot after we've eaten together where we can enjoy our friendship. It was just so good to remember why I fell in love with this incredible man. I don't know about you, but sometimes with the hum-drum of life we can lose the 'freshness' of our marriage and it can become 'stale' and well ... boring.

 

We are looking forward to many more nights at these places together, it's just so important to us to make the most of this marriage we share as (Lord willing) it will be our only one. We are realising that after many years of marriage that we can't ever get to a point where we don't take time out for each other. It was a wonderful night and we enjoyed it so much!

 

What about you? What are some of your date night traditions with your man?

 

 

 We have a few exciting days ahead of us! Our Little Miss P turns nine tomorrow (I will not cry!) and on Saturday we are going on a family holiday for a week at the beach! So, I will be taking a break from blogging here for a week or so ... look forward to seeing you when I get back!

Enjoy your beautiful families!
 

Fishy DNA

My husband is away on a deep sea fishing trip with some of the men on my side of the family. He's gone for a week and a half. The longest we've been away from each other in twelve years. I miss him. But I know that he needs this. He is such a dedicated and loving husband and father, such a hard worker for us. It's good for him to have time to himself to refresh, regroup and do all that 'manly stuff', without feeling guilty that he's taking time for himself.

I'm sure he's going to catch such huge fish and enjoy many peaceful sunsets and sunrises on the deck of the boat. Nature is how he connects with God the most. Nature and silence. He's one of those 'still waters run deep' kind of guys ... love him to bits. Hopefully he'll come back toting an esky full of fresh fillets that he caught for the ones he loves the most.

It does us good as wives to let our husbands be who they are. We shouldn't hold tightly to the reins or try to change them to become someone they're not. Instead, we should be striving to lovingly support and encourage them in their hopes, dreams, skills, interests, passions, faith, health, fathering, work and on and on (even though we may be thinking on the inside of how many things we will be doing without that extra pair of hands while they're gone).

Our husbands just need our love and respect ladies. An acceptance of who they are, just as they are (despite their flaws, which they all - and we all have). My man, I'm sure, is part fish. It's in His DNA! And so for me to deny him time to enjoy something he loves and makes him who he is, is not just stopping him from being the best he can be, it's outright selfish. 

While I/we do miss him terribly, I wouldn't want him to have not gone. He's going to be having the time of his life out there! (While I've had to pray through fear of great white sharks lunging themselves onto the deck of the boat and gulping my mans torso off ... that's how it happens in the movies right?!).

I am so happy that he has this time to himself. He needs and deserves it.

Let's be women who encourage our men, who bring out the best in them. Who help them accomplish God's plan for their lives. Who don't act selfishly when they ask for some time to themselves (however, if your man is taking too much time, don't nag - pray!)

No doubt, there will be photos to come of all the gigantic fish my man caught (can you tell I'm biased!) So stay tuned ...

... this should be good!

 

 

A Little Bit Of Crazy Fun ... For No Reason

Last Sunday night we had a lovely couple in our Church give a quick talk about having fun in marriage. I thought I would share. The concept is something that this couple have purposefully put in place in their own marriage of many years, and it works! It may seem simple, but I find it's often the simple things that we forget about in amongst all the distractions of life.

Their message was simply this: Those who play together, stay together.

They talked about how we in our marriages rarely remember the times when we are sitting down paying bills, gardening, cooking dinner etc. because those things are the 'need to be done' things in life. Although these things are important, they discussed the need for balancing the 'serious and required' with the 'fun and spontaneous'. They shared with us that it's when you are having fun, laughing and making inside jokes and fun little traditions together that that is when you are making memories that will last and add up to a sixty year marriage.They gave us two guidelines ...

1. It was not to have any reason
2. You have to go along with whatever the instigator ... well, instigates!

They threw it out to the congregation and asked us to think of some examples of 'fun for no reason' with your spouse, this is what we collectively came up with ...

• pillow fights
• food fights
• water fights
• nerf gun wars
• creating a fort
• hide and seek
• treasure hunt complete with maps and clues
• an obstacle course/race
• going outside and climbing trees

 

 

 



As you can see, some of the suggestions would be quite fun! What would you do to have fun with your spouse for no reason?! Would you try any of them?!

 

Have fun making memories with your special someone this week!