Saturday, October 30, 2010

You gotta get away!


My husband and I recently returned from a road trip – created by us – to celebrate our last anniversary. You see, our anniversary is in December so once autumn begins, then the holidays are in full swing, anniversary, Christmas . . . celebrating takes a bit of a back seat. Instead, we plan something during the year after. It’s good for us.

But it’s not easy.

Any couple with any sort of jobs, family, children, church responsibilities . . . well you know -- It’s called LIFE – any couple with any of those items involving their time find it difficult to set aside time just for the two of them . . with each other. Only.

As you read this, how many of you are saying to yourselves, “Tell me about it. We don’t ever do anything that’s just the two of us.” Admitting the problem is the First Step.

The truth is, our responsibilities do take most of our energy, our time, and our imagination. But here’s where a time out is needed along with a good evaluation of your marriage. But more importantly, the future of it.

Scott and I have a good marriage – 27 plus years. And because it’s good, it’s easy to take for granted that anything “extra” is ever needed or required to keep it cutting edge. Until you make the time, plan a date, or regular dates, or especially a short get-away, you don’t realize how much you need it until you do it.

We spent a few days at the beach in South Texas – during the off season. Not very expensive, within driving distance of home . . . but it helped us. And it proved once again, that time being our most valuable resource, is most valuable spent with each other.

Take some time and talk to your spouse. Plan a date, a movie, a dinner, something away from the house. Just you two. Start somewhere. Plan it. Schedule it. Do it.

Your children need solid parents in a solid marriage. You need it too.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

It's a Grand Re-Opening!!



OR: Where in the World is Debbie Sandiego?

Hopefully you don’t mind if I answer that question. I’ve been hiding I suppose – Hiding in my summer. Hiding in my son’s preparation for his first year at college and my daughter's senior year at college too. Hiding in some other projects. Hiding in our “empty nest.” But now it’s time to get up on some priorities, some discipline, some future thinking and visioning.

A Grand Re-Opening (of sorts)? I have always found those banners a little bit funny. What is a Grand Re-opening anyway? Another way of saying, “Let’s try this again and start again – only better.” Maybe it means smarter, or with more time to have counted the cost to get going again. Maybe it just means, I need to work harder to make it go.

In any case, that’s where I am. I took a summer off from my regular blog --- not with any real intentions to do so up front . . . but the cares of my life --- or rather the “caring of my life and those I love” became my priority. And you know, sometimes it’s okay to do that. The Bible calls it rest. And if that really is the reason for laying something down, or stepping aside from it for a season, then it can be rest.

It could also be called “avoidance or laziness or selfishness.” I call it rest. This time.

But today – a new day. I’m still resting, but it’s time to do a Grand Re-Opening. Of my blog, yes. Of a new incentive to push forward into some dreams I might have. Yes to that too.

How about you? What have you layed down that should be only for a season? Not forever?

Dust it off. Pick it up. Get moving.