5 Love Languages

 This month my husband and I celebrate 5 years of marriage. Time flies! Things are even better now than they were when we were first married. I just had a flash-back to our first weeks of being married, reading through the 5 love languages book. We'd read a chapter once a week and learn about how we could better love each other. While I don't agree with everything they say, nor recommend it hands-down against other marriage/love books, I did appreciate that it gave us a means to discuss our marriage.
 The flash-back was fun and I learned something about marriage. Needs can change over time. It's important to keep communicating them your marriage. After taking the test again, I laughed about the happenings of our life and how they've influenced my love-language. I'm sure they'll continue to change over time. I'm grateful we make time to talk about our marriage and how we can improve. I'm grateful we take time to plan loving each other.
 If you are interested in the 5 love languages or if you haven't taken the test in awhile, venture over there for a date night sometime with your spouse! It can give you a fun laugh and provide a way for you to communicate your needs. Just a small, but important step on the road of "happily ever after".

Nurturing Marriage: Date Ideas

 Interestingly enough, there is more than one way a date can nurture your marriage. Besides spending quality time together, having cheap date ideas in your arsenal means that alone time doesn't put strain on the budget.  "Financial related tensions...raise the risk of divorce." (NY Times) We all need some ways to fill up the love tank, without emptying the bank!

 The key to free or cheap dates is identifying them as a date. Often times, they are simple things you probably already do with your spouse. But when the kiddos and extra commitments come along, something about calling it a "date" and setting aside the time a week in advance makes it special. It gives you something to look forward to through your crazy week. 

We take turns planning dates too, which means nurturing comes from both sides of the marriage. It also means we get a better variety of dates and both get to do things that we like. 

 Last, we like to use these free date ideas as wedding gifts. We'll buy a couple card games, stick a $5 gift card for ice cream (or something similar) in each one. Then we'll stick a few date ideas, cut up in strips of paper, in each one. The new couple has some fun date ideas and a little date fund to help them start their lifelong journey of nurturing marriage. It's a winner every time!

Enough "how to", let's get to the ideas!!! (These are the ideas we used for new married couple gifts. I'll post more as my hubby and I continue in our adventures as well).

M-I-C-K-E-Y spells Home!

It's kind of sad, but I realized when we went to see Cars 2 as a family last Monday night that Disney has captured me! I have the nostalgic feeling of home whenever I am around anything Disney. I think that's what their whole marketing scheme is based around (and I was sucked in). Of course, I feel a little better about myself considering that I grew up only 20 minutes from Walt Disney World. I used to tell my students that Mickey Mouse is my brother (well, we did tease my brother Michael with that name).
One of my good friends is going to Disney World with her family for the first time in October with Make a Wish Foundation! I'm so excited for them (Excitement = BLOG)! Not to mention I was so excited that we continue to talk with each other about it until I promised her the dreaded link list (dun, dun, dun) of some other fun things to do in Orlando. So here it is, for my special friend, Mel, and anyone else who wants to know how to make Orlando into more than just a Disney vacation!

There's a Hole in my Blog, Dear Liza, Dear Liza

I was thinking about this blog the other day as a collection of who I am, updating my list of books I'm reading (which is pretty pathetic since Child #2 came along), rewording some things to better match my thoughts, and all of the sudden BAM!!!
It's like I got smacked in the face! The biggest part of my life, FOREVER, my other half is not on this blog at all! I wouldn't be a mother without him! There are so many things he has taught me.
I wondered "Why?" "Why am I so quick to write about motherhood, homemaking, homeschooling, etc. but NOTHING about my amazing husband and marriage?" I realized then that it's kind of personal. What could I write that would influence someone else to have a positive marriage without exposing something private between my husband and I?
So, while I can't really convey the beautiful intricacies of marriage on a blog, I decided I can start posting a little more about what makes my marriage so happy and unique.
Here are a couple of thoughts to start off with:
1. It's an eternal marriage.
2. My husband and I BOTH do the finances. Maybe it's a lot of extra work, but it means we have to talk about it more and we're both on the same page. Plus, we can check each other easier (you're much more responsible when you have someone to report to)
3. We are both REDS! I'm talking code - color code. My mother always said "how does that work exactly?" We're pretty productive :) He takes his stuff and I take mine..it works.
4. We LOVE to watch movies together
5. We've just recently had to start "planning" dates. Nothing half-hazard or last minute seemed to be happening anymore with two kids. More on this to come! We've had some great date ideas!
6. There is no question about feeling supported. Whenever I'm passionate about something, he's always been supportive :) (and I'm thinking again, why does this blog exist without him?)
7. He just walked in and said "How much would you be willing be spend for my "super-shed/greenhouse/chicken coop"....better go! Off to more adventures with my other half!