Date Night

So I saw this quote on Pinterest and loved it- yes, how obvious is that " the grass is greener where  you water it"?  Sometimes we just need a good reminder!  So in that spirit, I want to water the relationship Richard and I have.  We've been married 21 years- so we have recently slipped out of the newlywed catergory.  I think our marriage and relationship is better than ever- and that means a lot.  We have not sailed through the past years without our own share of storms and bad weather.  We have been through unemployment, sickness, several moves and job changes, the ongoing raising of 3 children, and his change of religious beliefs.  Some of our beliefs are different in major ways- and some things that are really important to me, don't mean anything to him- EXCEPT because he loves me those things become important to him- at least in wanting to support me.  I've never ever had a better friend- and feel so blessed to call him my husband.

One advantage of the fact that I recently quit my job is that I've had more time to think and reflect on our marriage. And the more I think about it- and Richard- the more I just fall in love with him.  When he texts me from work, I now  have  time to respond with meaning to his messages.  I think about him throughout the day and hope things are going well for him. I feel like he can relax more when he is home because I am more relaxed, and since I haven't been working all day I don't mind if he takes time to relax while I do a few things around the house.

At the start of the New Year, Richard and I decided to take turns planning a monthly date.  This has already been so exciting.  Normal "dates" for us have recently been things like running errands together or just last minute decisions to go out to eat.  And a lot of our dates would feel like "work meetings"- where we discuss things like kids, money and other situations that as the grown ups in our family we have to deal with.  Already having the responsibility to plan dates has upped our level of planning.  I created a   pinterest board that I've titled "Keeping the romance alive", where I've accumulated date ideas, relationship ideas and things- as it says "to keep the romance alive", on my Kindle I've started a running list of possible date ideas.I planned January's date- actually giving Richard a choice of a few ideas.  We went to a sports bar and watched football and ate wings.  We don't have cable, so it was nice for Richard to watch football,and for me it was just nice doing something different.  We have hit the 40's and in less than 10 years we could be empty nesters ( people keep telling me they come back, but we're not thinking about that yet since they haven't even left) - I don't want to be one of those people you read about who don't know what to do with themselves or each without the kids around.  So I find this the perfect year to try new things, maybe things that we find out we love, plus we'll be exlporing the area we live in too.  Today I got a nice surprise e-mail from my hubby about February's date.  He sent me links to two plays and said he couldn't decide- I gave him my input and the next e-mail said he bought tickets.  I love having something fun to look forward to! I love my husband and here is to the next 21 years and lots of watering!

And so it goes...

Just read: Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks and The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks and Total Control by David Baldacci .  I liked them all pretty well.