After 16 days of separation we are reunited. My husband, and high school sweetheart, returned from a mission trip last night, and I was like a giddy school girl. I wanted to hold his hand, walk arm in arm, and never leave his side. We've been apart lots of times before. LOTS. Actually, there have been times I've felt kind of guilty that we could easily endure being apart. We have friends who have said..."oh, we've never spent one night away from each other in 20 years!" Maybe it's because God gave use the grace to endure because our circumstances demanded it, I dont' know. But THIS TIME was different. I'm not sure what it was; maybe I"m just different. But during our time away, I desperately missed his companionship and affection. I realized now that I tried fill that emptiness in other ways -- I bought more clothes, ate more chocolate, organized more closets, and drove my kiddos crazier than I ever have before! All I know is that during those last few days, I determined in my heart that from the moment he returned I was going cherish every moment with him more that I ever have before! It's only been 12 hours, but I've kept my promise!
I also determined that I was going to add a marriage book to my reading list for this month. I downloaded the book Pastor Rob mentioned in church yesterday, Life Long Love Affair, by Jimmy Evans. And, of course, the FIRST words hit me between the eyes!
"One of the ironies of contemporary family life is that many people who are good at intentional parenting are lousy at intentional marriage." -- William J. Doherty.
Wow. Yes. We spend an inordinant amount of energy working to produce (as if it's us, not God! but that's for another entry!) great, godly kids that we are often out of energy or ideas when it comes to our marriage. In fact, I think I've often bought into the idea that having good kids is proof of your good marriage. No more...let the intentional marriage games begin!
I also determined that I was going to add a marriage book to my reading list for this month. I downloaded the book Pastor Rob mentioned in church yesterday, Life Long Love Affair, by Jimmy Evans. And, of course, the FIRST words hit me between the eyes!
"One of the ironies of contemporary family life is that many people who are good at intentional parenting are lousy at intentional marriage." -- William J. Doherty.
Wow. Yes. We spend an inordinant amount of energy working to produce (as if it's us, not God! but that's for another entry!) great, godly kids that we are often out of energy or ideas when it comes to our marriage. In fact, I think I've often bought into the idea that having good kids is proof of your good marriage. No more...let the intentional marriage games begin!
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