Date Night

Thursday afternoon my MIL called and offered to watch the kids over night Friday night. At first I was a little nervous due to the supply of milk I have stored for Sloane and well, the fact I haven't ever left her overnight. After talking with Mark (and hearing his "excited husband" voice) I decided it was a good choice and something we needed as a couple. Recently I read a blog post about time alone with your husband. By "time alone" I am not talking about a dinner or evening out here and there. I am talking about time spent with Mark...giving him my undivided attention for an extended period of time. I have heard mom's talk about how they are just "too involved" with their children to be able to do something like that well...we are involved in our children's lives. We also know and understand what the Lord has called us to do as husband and wife. To put our fears, anxiety, selfishness, and such behind and follow his will...the post I read quoted Gary Thomas,
"Simply living life changes us; we've go to keep pursuing our spouses or risk becoming a stranger to the person we married." For Mark and I the part of simply living changes us is MORE THAN TRUE! We have been through so much together as a couple and as individuals throughout our mere 5 years of marriage. If you are a regular reader you know we have been through things many will never, and we pray WILL NEVER experience. It's not often we talk about the "before" children time. As some couples can reflect on that time it's extremely painful for us. That may change someday but for now it is still too raw. We had the early afternoon/evening together. We visited a few stores we like to browse without children. ;) We exchanged looks, held hands, laughed, and reconnected. We took a break from the rat race we have been running not only the past few weeks but the rat race called "life." It was GOOD! The post I have been referencing talks about getting married and what that means. She states that even though getting married we continue to still grown and learn. She states "getting married doesn't mean you stop, you just do it together."
We have almost hit that 5 year mark in our marriage. I am not the woman he married and he is not the man I married. Life changed us. We have embraced it...not feared it! No matter what though we will remain in pursuit of each other's hearts.

If you fear leaving your child or can't "justify" that time I pray you take this post and think, pray, and discuss with your spouse. It will do a body good. ;) We had a great time together-we loved being "us" together!