RETREAT!

I am filled with anticipation today as I wait to leave for our marriage retreat. My husband is off at work, I am working on school work with the boys and I can't seem to concentrate on a thing. I feel like a kid waiting for Santa to come the next morning.

My husband and I have been on several marriage retreats. We have gone with children and without children. I truly enjoy the trips without our kids. Now, of course, I love my children and would do anything for them but there are times in my marriage that my husband and I need to be just that. Husband and wife. We need to take time out of our schedule and take off the many hats that we wear and just be husband and wife.

In a few short years our oldest will be off to college. That is hard to believe. Her high school years will fly by and before we know it we will be sending the rest of the children off to live their own adventurous life. That makes this retreat and any that follow that much more important.



My husband and I have always tried to have some sort of alone time. We like being together and even if we run out of things to talk about we enjoy just sitting with each other. (trust me I don't run out of things to talk about often, but it does happen once in a while) We have always known that eventually the children would leave and it would be just us. There are days we can't wait for that to happen. Then there are days it scares me to death.

By taking these mini-getaways and nurturing our relationship of husband and wife we are preparing for our future. We are stronger parents and partners because of it. Plus we get to do grown up things! For example, go to a restaurant that may or may not have a children's menu or you don't have to pick up your order at the window. We can stay out late and not worry about bed time, walk in stores that would require us to say "DON'T TOUCH" a thousand times, and the best part.......just stroll along together. No worries about someone running into the street or who is getting hungry or bored. Just walking along together, husband and wife.