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Dear Friends,
Dating Your Spouse
Every
couple that has been married for a while begins to notice the primary
difference from before “I Do”
and after the honeymoon. Dating.
What happened to sumptuous dinners by candlelight, or long, slow
hikes shared by just the two of you?
Now, business, hectic schedules, and yes, even kids, get in the
way. But for a marriage to survive through those 25-50 odd years of
craziness before rest and retirement, some serious dating needs to
happen. Here are some suggestions from Kristen Bird of Bestlifenow.com:
Choose the time.
The first step is to choose a date and time that will work for
both of you. Put it on the
calendar in bright red, and kindly decline any other appointments,
parties or events that come up on that day and time. Try to do this once a week, but if that
won’t work, be sure to at least get-together once a month.
Be creative.
Occasionally do dates that step outside the dinner and a movie
boundary. Go to a solarium and
gaze at the stars. Find a mom-and-pop diner off the beaten path, and
check it out together. Go to a bookstore, gather a big pile of books that
interest you and sit side-by-side browsing. If evenings are hard to get together,
take off during lunch and meet at a half-way spot. And if hiring a baby-sitter is a
problem, gather the kids in front of a long movie with popcorn and
drinks, and sneak into the backyard for a twilight picnic. The options are as big as your
imagination.
Set aside the money.
With the ups and downs of the economy the past few years, almost
every middle-class family has found themselves at a time when money is
tight. If this is the case, be
creative as mentioned earlier. But
also set aside a little cash every week just for date money. Put it in a special hiding place, so
you won’t be tempted to spend it on anything else. Even if it’s five
dollars, use it for a night out at the dollar theater with two 99 cent
meals afterward. And you’ll still
have a few pennies left over for next week.
Some good suggestions. If you are in the area and are looking for a
night out, we want to invite you to Shady Maple for our Fan the Flame Date Nite.
We will share a meal, some great fellowship with other couples, and will
give you the opportunity to work on at least one area of your
relationship. To register, click on the banner at the top or call
us at (717) 492-9500. We hope to see you there!
Because of families,
Bruce R. McCracken, Ph.D.
Founder / President
House on the Rock Family Ministries
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If you
found this information helpful, we have made other Pebbles of Truth articles
available on our website (www.hotrfm.org). Each month we feature
articles on the topics of: men's issues, marriage, blended families,
parenting, and church ministry to families. You will also find a
great deal more information about House on the Rock Family Ministries!
Thanks for visiting.
Please
feel free to forward this to friends and family … we just ask that you
keep it intact … thanks
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