Marriage refreshment.

Marriage is a wonderful thing.
A listening ear when you are full to the brim.
Loving arms to wrap around you when you are needing some love.
Kind words to encourage you.
Kisses to warm your heart and make you smile.
Dreams, goals, and experiences shared.
Laughing together,
Praying together,
yes -
even crying together.
Hugging, holding, knowing, talking, sharing, eating, whispering, loving, caring, smiling.
Every day with someone you love, and who loves you.

Wow. It sounds magical, doesn't it?!
Oops.

It isn't, always. In fact, many times we have seasons of paying bills, being sick, tight on money, vehicle breakdowns, disappointments, hurts, sorrows, losses, and even frustrations with each other.

The thing is, the first list is not separate from the second. They go together. We grimace a bit as we pay the dentist bill, but the next minute we are laughing and kissing and tickling. We share dreams over doughnuts and coffee, but our moments alone are interrupted by the baby's coughing or throwing up. We cry and grieve together over the loss of a loved one, arms wrapped tight around each other - holding the pain at bay. 

Marriage is not about living happily ever after. LIFE is still here - waiting to hit us with all the normal struggles and triumphs. But through it all we have each other.

Sometimes, we need to refresh. Sometimes we go through a season of life so hard it rocks our world and makes us gasp for air. Staggering, we catch our breath and go at it again. But we feel choked. We need a breath of fresh air to get our heads on straight. If you hit a really hard spot, if you're starting to bend under the weight of Life, maybe you need some marriage refreshment. A time of renewal and fresh vision and sweet connecting. 

My husband and I had hit such a tough spot this summer. Not with each other, but with LIFE. We went through a real tough season of foster care, medical bills, moving, miscarriage, and on and on. We felt like we needed a few days to recoup and refresh. So we dropped the kids off at a friend's house, and we headed to the mountains for a weekend away.

It was just what we needed. Sunlit forest, golden aspens, quiet town streets, delicious food... we came home feeling focused and ready to hit the ground running.

If you have never left the kids for a couple days and spent a little time on your marriage - I urge you to reconsider! 🙂 It is a wonderful way to reconnect.