As I look back over my blog posting list I find I've been a bit delinquent since the Holidays. I apologize. Many great things going on in our house. We enjoyed the holidays over a very spread out schedule. We are spending more time with our parents due to the good old "aging process" they both could use a bit of help and encouragement. Although I must say at the moment my parents are more needy. I was asked to take a little more responsibility at work and that requires a bit more than my half-time so I've been going to work early or staying a bit late. I am taking a class via the internet that will last through the first week in February and Mark has been busy with end of the year accounting for his business and our personal bookwork. To top all of that off we have a couple of events in the next two months and it's time to prayerfully prepare for those as well.
With that in mind I realized that Valentines Day will be over a month from now. As married couples it seems that this little holiday sneaks up on us much more so than when we were dating. Why so? Could it be that you are busy with the kids? Could it be that money is tight? Could it be that you just couldn't imagine how to fit one more thing in the month of February or do you just not have any good ideas? Well I want to encourage you! There are alot of great, simple ideas "out there". It can be but does not have to be fancy but especially if you have kids at home it will require a little planning. So start now!
Here's a few ideas:
Write a love letter! No really, do it. Tell your spouse what you love about them or your first memory of them or something you noticed last week but didn't get to say because it was time for the basketball game. Need more help? Go to http://www.onemillionloveletters.com/index.php
Research proves that dating your spouse at least once a month significantly improves your relationship. Give your spouse the gift of time. Make a gift certificate for one date per month for the next year. Plan dinner for Valentines day. Tell your spouse that mean so much to you that you are committed to at least one date per month for the next year. I suggest that you take your calendars and mark date night once a month for at least the next 4 months if not the whole year. Do not let ANYTHING budge in on that time unless it's a matter of life and death. Your marriage is important!
Go to a marriage retreat. In Iowa Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp has one every year around Valentines Day. You can find out about it at http://www.okoboji.org
Family Life Today sponsors "A Weekend to Remember" http://www.weekendtoremember.com
In the Des Moines Area Point of Grace Church will be hosting a Friday night/Saturday time the weekend before Valentines Day. You can find out more about that at http://www.pointofgrace.com
Mark and I will be helping to lead that one on Saturday. Come and join us! Okay, so now I'm stuck in Italics mode but I've got to go for today. If you have other Valentine ideas please share them by leaving a comment. Sometimes we just need one idea to get our own ideas flowing!
With that in mind I realized that Valentines Day will be over a month from now. As married couples it seems that this little holiday sneaks up on us much more so than when we were dating. Why so? Could it be that you are busy with the kids? Could it be that money is tight? Could it be that you just couldn't imagine how to fit one more thing in the month of February or do you just not have any good ideas? Well I want to encourage you! There are alot of great, simple ideas "out there". It can be but does not have to be fancy but especially if you have kids at home it will require a little planning. So start now!
Here's a few ideas:
Write a love letter! No really, do it. Tell your spouse what you love about them or your first memory of them or something you noticed last week but didn't get to say because it was time for the basketball game. Need more help? Go to http://www.onemillionloveletters.com/index.php
Research proves that dating your spouse at least once a month significantly improves your relationship. Give your spouse the gift of time. Make a gift certificate for one date per month for the next year. Plan dinner for Valentines day. Tell your spouse that mean so much to you that you are committed to at least one date per month for the next year. I suggest that you take your calendars and mark date night once a month for at least the next 4 months if not the whole year. Do not let ANYTHING budge in on that time unless it's a matter of life and death. Your marriage is important!
Go to a marriage retreat. In Iowa Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp has one every year around Valentines Day. You can find out about it at http://www.okoboji.org
Family Life Today sponsors "A Weekend to Remember" http://www.weekendtoremember.com
In the Des Moines Area Point of Grace Church will be hosting a Friday night/Saturday time the weekend before Valentines Day. You can find out more about that at http://www.pointofgrace.com
Mark and I will be helping to lead that one on Saturday. Come and join us! Okay, so now I'm stuck in Italics mode but I've got to go for today. If you have other Valentine ideas please share them by leaving a comment. Sometimes we just need one idea to get our own ideas flowing!
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