I've always said [well, maybe about 5 times in my life], if you want to be a doctor you have to learn how to be. To be a teacher you must learn how to be, an electrician, you get the point. Many professions in life you have to learn how do accomplish them.
Shouldn't it be the same in your marriage? Your most important relationship.
I like to study and continuously learn and I believe most couples reach out for help in crisis mode, but why wait until crisis mode to learn healthy marriage habits. So, I found a Christian marriage retreat. It would serve as a fun weekend away, learn something new, and always strengthen our marriage.
When we both finally figured our schedules out, the marriage retreat was SOLD OUT. In fact, another won't be local for five months. With my heart set on an out of town trip and my excitement to learn something new pulled out from underneath my feet, I deferred to another mantra I've said a few times in life, "Out smart, out think, out last!"
So, I created our own marriage retreat.
Searching for a marriage book to read together, I discovered something far greater. Audible!! A lot of the books on Amazon come in a version where the book you want is read to you. Audible is FREE for the first 30 days. And, I managed to get 2 free credits, which bought me two FREE books.
With an out of town road trip needed, I made reservations, created clues for David, and had our day trip agenda firmed:
7:30 a.m. Depart our home, off to a delicious breakfast I had two FREE passes to use.
8:45 a.m. Stop at Starbucks for an autumn beverage for our road trip. FREE using gift cards
9:00 a.m. Autumn beverages in hand, address put into navigation, we were off on a 2.5 hour road trip. This is where our Audible Christian marriage book played for 1.5 hours and we had another hour to discuss many topics, come up with an action plans to practice healthy tools to apply to our marriage.
12:00 p.m. Arrive in Hocking Hills State Park, we were off on the "X" Tour 3-hour Zip Line Tour!!!! He was THRILLED! We zipped at one point 80 feet high through trees, up to 45 miles per hour, and our favorite was riding the zip line down the middle of a river!
3:30 p.m. Cold drinks (we always split a Diet Coke) and snacks in the car, we preferred to go home to eat dinner versus eating out. We had homemade Tortilla soup and made chicken quesadillas.
8:00 p.m. We met Brookie at the park and listened to a Journey tribute band as the last summer concert in the park (FREE).
We may not have made the retreat, but we had our road trip, we listened to a fabulous Christian marriage audio tape and had a great conversation about us and our marriage, went on an adventure, and enjoyed the day together. And, saved a lot of money it would of cost on hotel stays and eating out if we had attended the retreat. I TOTALLY recommend Audible through Amazon Prime!! I totally recommend studying and constantly learning new best practices for your marriage. I totally recommend going on an adventure together.
Autumn day, how I love thee!
I'm glad it was colder outside today, cloudy, and rainy off and on. What a perfect excuse to stay home and relax. He made the pie he had been looking forward to making. I made homemade chicken noodle soup, we snuggled on the couch, I fell asleep in his arms, it feels amazing to just be home.
What a wonderful weekend.
