OK – We are just over a month removed from the 2011 Couples Event at FBCG. You’ve received two “Five Fridays” challenges – one that focused on your “fun list” – and one that focused on your “feel closer” list. Before we go back to each of those lists – let's try a couple of other ideas:
1. The weather is getting nicer (ever-so-slowly, but it is getting better!), so some day soon when the sun is out and it’s warm enough to venture outside – go for a walk together. If you live in a neighborhood where walking is both convenient and safe – just start out from your home and take a couple of laps around the block. Talk about whatever comes to mind – what you enjoy about living where you do; your children and how they are doing; what things have been like at work; what you want to do on your next vacation, anything. Just walk together and enjoy the day – even if you don’t talk about much the exercise will be good for you!
2. Sit down with a cup of coffee (and maybe dessert) some evening soon and talk about “things you would like to do this summer.” Have your personal and family calendars with you – and just start making a list of all the “summer things” you’d like to do – kind of like a “bucket list” without the dying part! Your list might include things like:
• go for a bike ride
• go to Dairy Queen for an ice cream cone
• go to a Cubs game
• have a picnic by the river
You get the idea – now set aside a time and make your own summer “to do list”!
Thanks for being part of the Five Fridays marriage community!
Pastor Brian and Lorene
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Five Fridays #2
Well, how did it go? Did you plan a fun activity to share together? More importantly, did you actually have fun? I hope so – because few things are as healing and powerful as sharing laughter together as a married couple! Lorene and I took advantage of a free Saturday evening (no high school basketball game to watch, no Saturday evening service for me to lead) to share a date night with a movie and dinner together. We shared popcorn at the movie – which was fun. Then we had a nice gift certificate to use for dinner – so we went to a restaurant that we would not normally choose – and we did our best to spend every last penny – which was also fun!
If you weren’t able to schedule your “fun time” yet – it might be time to take an honest look at your schedule – to see what “time bandits” are robbing you of the time you need to invest in your marriage! Sit down together today and set a time to spend together – so that you can focus on “Five Fridays” challenge #2!
1. First, set a specific date and time on your calendar to invest in your marriage. It doesn’t have to be a Friday, of course, any day or time will work so long as the two of you are together! It might be as simple as an evening at home after the kids are put to bed – with a cup of coffee and without the T.V. on! Or, it might be a date for dinner out at your favorite restaurant – the point is to invest time together in your marriage!
2. If you attended the Couples Event – you remember that we had you make a list of three things that your partner does, or that you do together, that make you feel closer as a couple. If you still have the booklet, bring it to your “date night” – if you don’t have it, or did not attend the event – take a few minutes right now and list three things that you think help you feel closer to your husband/wife:
1. _____________________________
2. _____________________________
3. _____________________________
3. When you are together – take turns going through each item on your list. Talk about what kinds of things help you feel closer as a couple – and why you think that is so. Try to give examples of times in your marriage where this particular item has produced a deep sense of connection as a couple – and talk about how each of you can be more intentional about doing your part to make sure these times of closeness happen more often!
Good luck – and thanks for being part of the “Five Fridays” marriage challenge!
Pastor Brian and Lorene
If you weren’t able to schedule your “fun time” yet – it might be time to take an honest look at your schedule – to see what “time bandits” are robbing you of the time you need to invest in your marriage! Sit down together today and set a time to spend together – so that you can focus on “Five Fridays” challenge #2!
1. First, set a specific date and time on your calendar to invest in your marriage. It doesn’t have to be a Friday, of course, any day or time will work so long as the two of you are together! It might be as simple as an evening at home after the kids are put to bed – with a cup of coffee and without the T.V. on! Or, it might be a date for dinner out at your favorite restaurant – the point is to invest time together in your marriage!
2. If you attended the Couples Event – you remember that we had you make a list of three things that your partner does, or that you do together, that make you feel closer as a couple. If you still have the booklet, bring it to your “date night” – if you don’t have it, or did not attend the event – take a few minutes right now and list three things that you think help you feel closer to your husband/wife:
1. _____________________________
2. _____________________________
3. _____________________________
3. When you are together – take turns going through each item on your list. Talk about what kinds of things help you feel closer as a couple – and why you think that is so. Try to give examples of times in your marriage where this particular item has produced a deep sense of connection as a couple – and talk about how each of you can be more intentional about doing your part to make sure these times of closeness happen more often!
Good luck – and thanks for being part of the “Five Fridays” marriage challenge!
Pastor Brian and Lorene
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