Marriage advice Collaboration- part 4

Happy Saturday!

I’m sitting with a bowl of strawberry nut oatmeal,  have some gaelic folk music playing, grabbing my glasses and getting ready to type up a storm full of wonderful thoughts for you all today! This week has been a bit crazy – I was finally feeling decent enough to go to a 19th century dance class(!), work a bit and plan a seder meal with my OH and mom. Of course, pinterest has been a companion during the down times – checking out gardening tips and plans since I am hoping to grow a decent portion of our veggies this summer and i’ve gotten hooked on a blog called http://refashionista.net/, check it out, that’s all i’m gonna say.

For today, I am going to share with you some words from my aunt Lisa in California. She has a spitfire personality, is a blast to go antiquing with and made us the most beautiful quilt for our wedding. Her and my uncle Dan have been married 30 odd years (sorry I don’t know for sure Aunt Lisa!! )

Marriage is full of momentous days : weddings, births, graduations, new jobs and more. However, when I look back over more than three decades of married life, these aren’t the things that resonate with me as the true gifts of sharing my life with the one God has chosen for me. It’s the little things that have become the foundation that keeps our building strong. When Dan and I were dating he frequently left notes on my car windshield. These were invariably signed with the same five words of endearment, little did we know these would become our signature in all notes to each other for a lifetime! These words of love still make me smile and feel completely loved. As with all couples when the children came along ,it became increasingly difficult to find moments alone to share daily happenings, concerns and joys. In our children’s teen years, my husband and I began taking evening walks after dinner in order to carve out those 20-30 minutes to talk without interruptions. Now, many years later, we still enjoy these daily walks, although our interruptions have moved on to begin lives of their own, the time together is still precious. so, whether it’s Dan bringing home my favorite veggie (his least favorite) from a local farmer that was harvesting it fresh from the field, because he knows my love of broccoli or my afternoon phone call to him to let him know it’s a good fishing day if he’d like to go after work, or a sticky note left to share those five most precious words, our wedded bliss is most definitely found in the little things. Look for joy and laughter in the smallest of everyday happenings, these will become your sustenance to fill the gaps between the momentous days.”

How wonderful are Those words?  I love it love it.

I am also going to include another dear womans advice – I met Shirel through my OH, when he took me up to Portland to meet his ‘adopted’ parents. This wonderful couple has been there for him for so many years, and I am blessed to call them family now too. Shirel and her husband, Warren are rabbis at their synagogue and have been married …. somewhere near 30 years (hehe, can you tell i’m guessing this one? I obviously forgot to ask that question)

“Keep God central in the relationship. When we follow His commands, all parts of our lives benefit. Never let the sun go down on your anger. Practice good communication. I think a date night is also very important. It keeps romance alive when we anticipate and prepare for some one-on-one time with no distractions.”

Amen! I love date nights. (ha – what woman doesn’t?)  We have plans to celebrate our anniversary (that was last weekend) this evening, so yay for on on one time!

I certainly hope you are enjoying this series, I got a much better response than I thought I would – so I am going to continue it until I am out of  pieces to put up! I am thinking of new future posts, so beware for that!

Have a wonderful weekend dear friends! Get out and enjoy that sunshine!

~Laura