Marriage Monday: Friendship in Marriage
Over on Chrysalis they’re celebrating “Marriage Monday” with this question:
What do you two love to do together that fosters good feelings between you?
One thing I’ve learned is that we have to be intentional about “together time.” Otherwise, life has a way of taking over.
Three Intentional Together Time Ideas
- Browse Hallmark
One of our favorite fun (and free!) things to do together is visit the local Hallmark store and read funny cards to each other. We start out snickering and end up doubled over in laughter! We don’t buy any, but we like to think we help sell plenty of cards! (We do give the store plenty of our business throughout the year — just not on card-reading nights!)
- Hit the Mall
When our daughter was first born, we’d to “go out on the town” to the local mall where we’d split a full-size Cinnabon, a milk, and then sit and listen to the Nordstrom pianist play movie themes for an hour.
- Road Tripping
Daniel loves taking road trips together. (I’m enjoy them once we’re on the road!) We just got back from an overnight trip during which we spent about 10 hours on the road. We crank up good music . . . eat at our favorite food joints (yay Panda Express!) . . . stop at every Guitar Center and Dress Barn our GPS can find . . . read aloud to each other (I just read a fascinating chapter from Outliers to Daniel) . . . discuss what we’re reading . . .
Road trips remind us of our college days, when life was so much simpler. Ah, the joys of plenty of time to just “hang out” and talk about whatever’s on our mind!
I enjoyed reading this post! My husband and I also like to take road trips together. Sometimes, we just go out for day-drives where we have no plan, just decide which way to turn when we come to a road that looks interesting. It is a great way to enjoy God’s creation as we spend time together. We always have great conversations on these drives! We also like to read out loud together. This started when our premarital counselor suggested a couple of books to read together before we got married. Ever since then, we have enjoyed this.
I really needed to be reminded about being intentional in our time together. Our son will be three months old next week and we have not spent any real quality time just the two of us. We need to make a point of doing that!
I so enjoyed reading your post. I quickly called my husband at work to ask him what we still do together after almost 34 years of marriage. We both started to laugh at the same time as it came to us…fishing. Although, my husband doesn’t love fishing quite as much as I do, we have ‘almost’ always enjoyed our special time together. He is great at rowing the boat all over the lake for his dear sweet wife to find just the perfect fishing spot. And the two of us believe the secret to getting a good catch all depends on if we are wearing our lucky underwear that has to have fish on it. Thanks for reminding us what’s important in life.
JoAnne (Tenderheartjb via Twitter)
I say “Amen” to this: One thing I’ve learned is that we have to be intentional about “together time.” Otherwise, life has a way of taking over.
I love the way you like to read greeting cards together. You both must be wordsmiths! :~D
Thanks for joining us for Marriage Monday today, Cheri.
What a delightful read on the eve of my 21st wedding anniversary! My husband and I have always liked “doing nothing” together, which can include simple things like pulling weeds (which we have lots of!), side-by-side and not always having to talk as we work! Just the simple act of being together in the moment, whether indoors or outdoors, needs little communication as long as we enjoy being with one another. 😀
Such a great post.
Hey Cheri,
So nice to meet you!
Sounds like you and your hubby really know how to have a GREAT time together.
I also like to read the cards to my hubby as well, the funny ones!
Thanks for sharing today, I really enjoyed this.
Blessings♥
That’s great advice! We need to be better about that.
I am convinced that laughter can see a marriage through many a difficulties and day to day stuff!
Just the other day, my Hub asked,
“Would you please make me a salad?”
To which I replied,
“POOF! You’re a salad!”
I love to hear my man laugh!
Connie
You are so right about being intentional or life takes over. Thanks for the insight.