Marriage Monday: Slow Down and Simplify

For the last part of last week and the first part of this week, we’re focusing on slowing down and simplifying. Today’s Marriage Monday continues on in that theme.

Mark says…
When Jill and I have our schedule maxed out, our marriage suffers. We compromise our communication which causes us to withdraw into our own little world. Instead of being one in marriage, we become like roommates.

Jill says…
It’s easy to fall into busyness. Parenting requires a lot from us. Then there’s work, lessons, hobbies, home repairs, school programs, church activities, and more. Our crazy, busy lives can suck the life right out of our marriage.

Mark says…
That’s why slowing down and simplifying is so important to our marriage. When are you spending time with your spouse without children? When are you talking to one another without the distraction of the television or the computer?

Jill says...
Here are some ideas for slowing down and taking time for each other:

Go to bed one hour earlier than usual. Grab some of your photo albums from years ago, snuggle in bed and reminisce about your early years together.
Pull out a board game like Yahtzee and play as a couple after the kids are in bed.
Cook a meal together…try a new recipe and cook the entire meal from scratch.
Linger after dinner at the table. Talk about strategies for simplifying your schedules and slowing down to really enjoy life.
Take a walk in the park together…holding hands and talking.

Today’s assignment for slowing down and simplifying is to choose one of the above activities or design one of your own that will invest in your marriage.
We’d love to hear what worked for you!

P.S. On the topic of marriage, we are presenting our Love For A Lifetime message at a Couples Night Out this Thursday night in Gurnee, IL. If you live in the area, come join us! For more info click HERE.

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4 Comments

Tania S. on April 18, 2011 at 10:11 am

One of the things that my husband and I do together is have coffee in the evenings. If the weather is nice we head outside with a coffee cup in hand and spend about 45 minutes to an hour just talking with one another. Our kids (ages 11 & 13) know that this is time for mom and dad and that they are not to interrupt us during that time unless it is an emergency. Some may say that we should wait until our kids are in bed before we have our time together. We want our kids to know that we need our time together and want them to see us together. This also gives time for our kids to either have alone time, or time for the two of them to bond. They usually play around or finish up homework, studying, chores etc. It works out really well for our family.
Thanks Jill for the marriage Monday posts. I enjoy reading them.

Sunny on April 18, 2011 at 12:14 pm

Yay! We do the games after the kids are in bed– we love playing cards or mancala out on the deck in the summertime after the kids are in bed. Another strategy a friend of mine uses with her hubby is to have a “Date at Eight.” Once her boys are in bed, she and her husband plan for some quality time together, around 8:00 (hence the name “date at eight.”)

JillSavage on April 18, 2011 at 4:52 pm

I love the “Date at Eight” idea! Thank you for sharing it!

Erin on April 18, 2011 at 4:05 pm

These are all great ideas and plan on doing at least one of these tomorrow night, since my hubby is gone turkey hunting. I will let you know how it goes. Thank you for these wonderful Marriage Monday posts.

Tania S. on April 18, 2011 at 10:11 am

One of the things that my husband and I do together is have coffee in the evenings. If the weather is nice we head outside with a coffee cup in hand and spend about 45 minutes to an hour just talking with one another. Our kids (ages 11 & 13) know that this is time for mom and dad and that they are not to interrupt us during that time unless it is an emergency. Some may say that we should wait until our kids are in bed before we have our time together. We want our kids to know that we need our time together and want them to see us together. This also gives time for our kids to either have alone time, or time for the two of them to bond. They usually play around or finish up homework, studying, chores etc. It works out really well for our family.
Thanks Jill for the marriage Monday posts. I enjoy reading them.
Sunny on April 18, 2011 at 12:14 pm

Yay! We do the games after the kids are in bed– we love playing cards or mancala out on the deck in the summertime after the kids are in bed. Another strategy a friend of mine uses with her hubby is to have a “Date at Eight.” Once her boys are in bed, she and her husband plan for some quality time together, around 8:00 (hence the name “date at eight.”)
- JillSavage on April 18, 2011 at 4:52 pm
  
  I love the “Date at Eight” idea! Thank you for sharing it!
Erin on April 18, 2011 at 4:05 pm

These are all great ideas and plan on doing at least one of these tomorrow night, since my hubby is gone turkey hunting. I will let you know how it goes. Thank you for these wonderful Marriage Monday posts.