Totally Worth While

Rachel, of Smile And Wave, has posed a great question concerning the marriage relationship! Read this post and all the comments that follow. I promise it will be well worth your time and I hope you step away from your computer screen with a myriad of ideas of how to love your one&only even more. I know that I did!!

And here's the comment(s) that I left:

Tomorrow my husband and I will celebrate 88 months of togetherness. That's 7 years and 4 months. We've been married for nearly 5 years of that. So that's one thing we do - recognize the 12th of each month as a monthiversary. I usually make a special dinner. We might take a quick picture together. And throughout the day we say, "Happy Anniversary." And I usually spend some time reflecting on past months. Here's some things that strengthen my love and gratitude for him all the more.

Be together - if he's doing school work in the living room, I'll sit nearby (reading, crocheting, and make myself available to help him). Or if we're in separate rooms ... I try to make it a point to go "visit" him every half hour or so. Just a quick kiss or hug, peek my head in the door and ask, "How's things going?" "I love you!" "Is there anything I can help you with?"

Remember the firsts - a few times a year I'll go through and read some of our first e-mails that we wrote each other and look at the first pictures. Great refresher!

Spontaneous lunch dates - I usually pack a lunch for Tony to take to work. But sometimes I'll meet him at his workplace and we'll go to lunch together. He's the one that usually prompts these spontaneous dates. I try to be flexible with my schedule and let my "plans" go sometimes in order to do this. But he is totally worth it!!

No silent treatment - about six months ago, I heard a lady talking about giving our husbands the silent treatment. I was totally guilty of this! She said it is treating our husband as if he were dead - you want nothing to do with him - he is dead to us at that moment. That really convicted me and ever since, if I feel a silent treatment coming on, I'm quickly reminded of this statement and battle against it. My husband is not dead in those moments. Communication is what we need in those moments. Quick I'm Sorry's, quick forgiveness, and lots of grace!

Reminds me of a book titled, "When Sinners Say, I Do." Great reminder of how much grace we both truly need to extend to one another.

Never, never go to sleep angry.

Listen and read things that encourage loveliness ... I try not to surround myself with critical, nagging wives...

Occasionaly I'll write a simple, "I love you on a napkin in his lunchbox" and even more rare, on the bathroom mirror with lipstick. Just Because!

Make it a point to stay fit - exercise - dress up for no reason - wear heels - no special occasion is needed for any of those!

When he gets out of work for the day he always calls me to say he's on his way home. I'll typically take those 20 minutes to do a quick refresher to the house, freshen up my attire or make-up. And maybe light a good smelling candle near the front door.

Sleep - we both need it, and try to be intentional about a regular bed time.

Pick up his "favorite" things at the grocery store.

Remind him that I'm on his team!!

The Peasant Princess series by Mark Driscoll is awesome!!!

Sharing the same interests - learning to love what he loves.

Taking interest in his day. Letting him get home and just unwind for a little bit before I tell him all about my day.

Listening to thought-provoking sermons and discussing them.

Okay... I'll stop there. :)

P. S. Okay, one more thing. High thread count sheets are a must for the marriage bed!! :)