The Challenge to Date My Husband

Not that dating my husband is a challenge, but when you have kids, a job, responsibilities.....certain things take a lower place on the priority list. It's not intentional, it's just "life" getting in the way.  We've been married for ten years and have been through all kinds of things. The same things that worked in the "dating" phase definitely don't work in this stage.  At least not for me.  So we started planning dates, like actually on the calendar a week in advance.

We've actually gone out for the last few weekends in a row.  We've been trying to go somewhere new every time we go out, even if it's just the coffee shop after dinner.  Sometimes we have deep conversations, and then there are times like this last weekend that we just talk about whatever.  But we talk.....  It's kinda fun.

What it's done for me is that I have something to look forward to all week - and I get excited.  Kind of like the excitement you get when you're first dating or you're newly weds.  The excitement for dates with my husband is bringing excitement about my husband.  I look at my husband differently, like I'm all in looooove.  I'm starting to appreciate my husband again for who he is as my husband and as a man.

The excitement is like a ripple effect.  I'm also feeling better about myself and I've had more peace than usual, which really helps me as a mom.  I don't have the answers and solutions or "How-To's" for keeping your marriage exciting and alive.  But the simple act of intentional dating is bringing a spark back and I'm looking forward to what happens next.

This week's observation:  Went to a funeral this last weekend for a lady in her 80's who had been married for over 60 years.  The most impactful part of the visitation and ceremony for this incredible woman was seeing her husband stand at her casket for about ten minutes holding her hand.  After wondering what could possibly be going through his mind and heart, I started thinking about what I could do to have a relationship like that with my husband in 60 years.  I'm sure over time they've had more than a couple rough moments, but I think if I continue to be open to change and to God leading us in our lives and marriage, we'll end up with a great story of our own.

The Challenge to Be Challenged

Live Challenged is going to be a blog about challenging myself to do new things, dealing with old things, and discovering the woman God created me to be.  Life becomes challenging when you have anything or anyone other than yourself to take care of and worry about. There are some people who thrive on having a million things on their plate.  Then there are those like me who have a hard time handling more than one thing at a time and ever putting myself first.

In this discovery of new things and learning how to deal with life, some of the challenges will be: discovering how God designed me and accepting who I am; trying not to be like anyone else; trying not to be down on myself because I've compared myself to another wife or mother.  Other than challenging myself as a wife, mother and individual, I'll talk about challenging myself as an artist, musician, fashionista, runner, and lover of clean eating just to name a few.

I know this journey may not be easy, but the possibilities are endless and exciting.  I'm going to do my best to Live Challenged and I'm so looking forward to sharing it with you!