It’s been a while since we walked the beach, just the two of us.
I recently heard my pastor share his intention to deepen his marriage and pour into the heart of his wife. I thought, “Wow, my own marriage could use some cultivating as well.” Then I received a text from my husband, “Can we go on a date this week?”
Our lives are run in super speed with jobs, responsibilities, and the kids. On rare occasions, when it’s just the two of us, conversations consist of, “Can you test the pool water?” “Will you watch the kids next week while I go to the doctor?” “When do you travel next?” and “I think the car needs to be looked at.”
Before we know it, our children will be out on their own. With the house suddenly quiet and more time on our hands, who will we be? Sometimes, children and the way of life push marriages to the side, as though there will be time later to tend to it.
But what if later, all that’s left are two strangers?
With travel and work schedules ruling our lives, date night has been pushed to the side for months. This past week, forgoing our comfortable date routine of dinner and a movie, we enjoyed dinner at a marina and a walk on the beach.
Because aren’t healthy marriages cultivated by time spent together? And isn’t friendship the fertile soil to a lasting marriage?
Time slows down by the sea. The crashing waves produce a relaxing melody that soothes the soul. The feel of the sand under our feet, the water lapping at our ankles, and the endless sea before us became a reminder that life is much bigger than our hectic schedules.
We talk. We reconnect as friends. Hearts are drawn in the sand.
Walking together, we add our own footprints to the well trod beach. The trail of our foot impressions lead into the water and disappear with the next wave crashing ashore. And the impression this evening leaves in my own heart leaves a trail of hope.
Continuing to count and cultivate joy (1533-1554):
my loving husband
dinner by the river
walk along the beach
ice cream and another walk down by the river
my sweet boys who continue to amaze me
My oldest diligently writing a story for homeschool and enjoying every minute of it
picking out my bridemaids dress for my sister’s wedding
tank tops to wear in the hot Florida sun
ice cold water
Attending my oldest’s science project presentation and never having to see another mealworm again 
My dear friend’s sweet baby out of the hospital after a scary bout with salmonella
Trip to Legoland with homeschool group
Free entry into the Legoland waterpark’s pre-opening festivities for our homeschool group
Sunscreen
Disney’s Blizzard Beach with grandma
lazy rivers
realizing we’ve moved into a new stage of life-the kids can go on slides without us:)
relaxing evening by the pool at the hotel
time spent together as a family
Chicago style pizza
celebrating a friend’s upcoming wedding
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Cool pics and so true about cultivating our marriages! Glad that you had a great date night!
So thankful this week as well!
Oh, so sweet! And the pics make me a little nostalgic for the beach, the place my husband and I always inhabited. Once upon a time.
Keep the dates flowing and you’ll keep the fire glowing!
Have a great week.
Yikes! I’m guilty of marriage neglect. I too fear what we’ll be like once the children are grown. I’ll be testing my daughter’s babysitting skills - slowly. Even if it meant 30 minutes for my husband and I to go down the street for a cup of coffee, I’d be happy with that! Wonderful post, as they all are. Blessings!
Such wise words here. My children are all in college now, and my husband and I are still adjusting to a different kind of relationship. Not so much with each other, but with our children. :}
What lovely pictures! Uff - and we’ve neglected date nights for a long time, too. But they really are important to help couples reconnect during the business of parenthood. We can’t afford to lose that spark. Thanks for the reminder. Popping over from Playdates: https://jukiczr.blogspot.com - A Little R & R
Oh I can’t encourage you enough to not let life…kids push aside the 2 of you connecting. about 10 yrs ago with 5 children still at home…would sneak out every Sat. morning for breakfast…we were gone by 7 and back by 9…as the years went on and the kids got older…we would stay gone longer…eating…than working out together…running errands…what ever…but just time together. We have treasured this time over all these years…and our kids have seen that we value each other enough to carve time away to cultivate our marriage. A good marriage is the best gift and inheritance we can give our children. blessings to you my friend….
Oh, I love the idea of sneaking out on a Saturday morning! I may suggest this to my husband - we’re lucky and our kids aren’t early risers so this may work!
Thanks for sharing your wisdom. I truly treasure it! These are great ideas too!
I love your words that “friendship is the fertile soil for a lasting marriage.” That is so true. And I struggle with that same push and pull of my often too crowded life, Christina. But I join you in trying to make it a priority! Great reminders!
Over here from Ann’s! Legoland, the mecca of all little boys. My 8 year old grandson wants to go so bad!
Love the beach and those precious moments there with loved ones is definitely priceless. So thankful I stopped by today. Blessings.
Thank you! I just dropped by from Ann’s and I am so glad I did!! I needed to read these words….it seems like forever since hubby and I have spoken of anything besides work and kids…I miss those casual conversations that take place as friends, I miss the date night….I miss my best friend!! Time to put the daily grind aside for a moment or two and enjoy him…thanks again!!
LOVE this!!!!
I’m always happy to hear about succesful marriages, and what couples do to make their relationships work. We hear too much about the other kinds of relationships! Patsy
Yay for you and your hubs! I went out this past weekend with my husband for the first time in about a year with just the two of us. It made my list too.
Wonder-filled post.
I love your encouragement to look at the big picture of what will be left of your marriage when the kids are out of the house. So important to keep that friendship and love and intimacy alive during this busy time. Thank you for your words. I LOVE the way you write!
My husband and I are having more time together since my kids are getting older and cultivating their own lives. I think we are going to be just fine when they leave the nest and I don’t take that for granted. And I just bought some tank tops today, its been so hot. Every year before it gets hot I can’t imagine wearing them and then find myself hunting down whatever article has the least amount of fabric!
Yes, we’re graduating, too — “our kids can go down slides without us.” Oh, the *freedom*!! Ha!
Really, though. Your post is very timely. Many marriages in shambles all around us, it seems. Spending our date night counseling other couples. And needing time to connect our own hearts, too.
If only there were beaches in Missouri . . .
Hiking mountains will have to do for now ~ not a bad trade.
Lovely post, Christina.
I’m glad to find your blog. I will enjoy reading through many of your posts. It’s always nice to read blogs that are encouraging marriages.
Oh thanks! You are sweet. It’s great to “meet” you!
It is very true that we need to cultivate our marriages. Ours was in big trouble about 12 years ago. We managed to works things out and now we work on ‘us’. We constantly write to each other silly little messages. We try to do date nights as often as our schedules allow and we make sure that each other knows that they are special and loved by the other one.
It has really strengthened our marriage and we have many people now tell us what an inspiration we are to them.
What a beautiful post! It is so true that our lives get so wrapped up in the day to day “busy-ness” that our marriages can take a back burner to it all. Kudos to you and your husband for taking the time to cultivating yours! Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Many blessings, Lisa
This was beautiful and a great reminder to take time alone with your spouse!