Russell and I realized a couple of nights ago that our 'alone' time has become routine and monotonous...without our even realizing it! We talked through our expectations of "our time," once again reminded that we see life so differently! For fulfillment, Shireen needs to TALK! Russell need to
VEG! :) Marriage is TRULY HARD WORK! However, it is so fulfilling...when we are genuinely intentional.
So, as we sat on our sofa discussing our different perspectives, Russell suggested that we pray. (Always a great idea! :)) Then, Russell remembered the wisdom shared by our pre-engagement counselor...be intentional in your conversations and time together, perhaps allowing for a date night just for her, and then the next date night strictly for him. Genius! I praise the LORD for allowing Russell to remember this!! (See! God immediately directed us once we turned to Him in prayer!)
So, last night was date night
for SHIREEN! :) Knowing this throughout the day, I prayed in advance, asking the Lord to help me come up with a creative, intentional 'plan' for our evening so that we would
both enjoy our time and be fulfilled. By 1:00 in the afternoon, I still had no sense of direction...no plan, but I continued to pray. I casually went to my blog reader to check for any updates on my favorite blogs, and
Bryan Johnson had blogged something that spurred my heart! "Thank you, Bryan, even though you don't even realize how God used your creativity!" :)
Bryan is an amazing photographer, and he has recently started including some fun "Questions & Answers" to entertain his readers while we peer through his subjects' (mostly brides & grooms) lives! SO, how did God use this for me yesterday? I copied and pasted all of his "Questions" and added some of my own onto a sheet of paper to take on our date night. This truly allowed for a fun and interactive evening for me and my hubby!!! I think Russell was even somewhat surprised/impressed!
Well, Russell suggested we go out to dinner, so he took me to
Iguana Grill, a very cute, well-decorated (in a bright, funky fun sort of way! just look at the pictures! :)) Mexican restaurant, where we dined on chips & salsa (2 kinds of salsa!), guacamole dip, two yummy tex-mex meals of chicken, beef, enchilada, taco, steamed veggies, etc. As soon as our drinks were served, we started through all of the fun questions. We sat at the dinner table for almost TWO HOURS! That's a RECORD for ONLY the two of us!! AND because we had a sheet of paper (looking all professional, I guess! :)) that we appeared to be "discussing," the waiter left us alone in between serving us! He did not rush our time at all! It was such an unexpectedly FUN and fulfilling evening!! I praise the Lord, and I encourage you to try this, whether you stay home over a candle-lit dinner or go out for dinner or dessert/coffee! :)
Girls, here are some great example questions for your next date night!!!
-Were you to serenade your bride, what song would she hear?
-The greatest midnight meal.
-All costs covered by Travelocity, you two have 36 hours to be anywhere. Where shall we be going?
-Oscar, Grammy, or Pulitzer Prize. Who gets which?
-If your other were a fruit, which would your spouse be?
-It rains all Saturday. The Netflix guy lives next door. What three flicks do you borrow?
-An hour to roam the mall. Where will you be?
-Sir, you surprise her by cooking supper. What's on the menu?
-Your ultimate roll-up-the-rug, dancin' shoes mix CD starts with what tune?
-Groom, you go back in time and get to meet your bride for the first time again. Give us a your best one-liner.
-You came to a compromise. What color did you paint the room?
-Who would you say is your groom's/ bride's celebrity look alike?
-You and your groom/ bride are ice-skating. Who takes the nastiest fall?
-Which character in Saved By the Bell were you most like in high school and why?
-If you could go back in time and play the leading role in any movie ever made, what role would it be and why?
-Which spring sporting event will you celebrate- Final Four, Kentucky Derby, or the Masters?
-You can book any band for one night with 100 friends. Who's on the bill?
-What books stack on the bedside table?
-First Christmas tree. Colored bulbs or white lights?
-Tell one thing about him or her that makes you laugh.
-You must spend $1,000 on your husband. What’s his loot?
-His preference? Coat and tie, or corduroys and a polo?
-Winter, spring, summer, or fall?
-The sun is bright, it's 80 degrees, and it's Saturday. Where are you?
-What hidden talent does your spouse have that would surprise even those who think they know her/ him well?
-You're asked to paint a picture to be hung in the White House. What do you paint?
-What is your favorite hour of the day? Why?
-What is your spouse's favorite activity/hobby?
-You have the day completely to yourself! What do you do? Morning, day, night?
-You have $100 that you have to 'burn'...you cannot save it, you cannot put it toward your budgeted items...this is mad money for you to spend ANY way you like!
-You get to plan your next date night...what do you plan? 1-Money is NO option; 2-Money IS an option.
-What dessert do you choose for your honeybun? :)
-You really want to speak to your spouse's love language! What do you do?
-Favorite personality trait of your spouse?
-Your spouse's favorite book of the Bible?
Hmmmmm....I wonder what date night will look like next week!?!?! It'll be Russell's choice! :)
So, according to Baby Center, it seems I have a rutabaga in my tummy! :) Okay, maybe not a the actual vegetable, but it's neat to have an idea that Rhys is about the average weight of a rutabaga -- about 1 1/2 pounds and is measuring 13 1/2 inches in length, from head to heel.
"Father, we praise you for creating this child, and we continue to pray over his heart...that You would continue to draw him to Yourself through us as his parents, through Your Word, through prayer, through people and circumstances. Use whatever You will to open his eyes and heart to Yourself in such a way that he wants to follow hard after only You! I pray this for myself and Russell, as well, as we seek to raise Rhys and hopefully a growing family to know and love You with all of our hearts, souls, minds and bodies. We are Yours, Abba. Use us as You will. In Jesus' powerful name I pray. Amen."
Pictures speak a thousand words, so I'll let the pictures do the speaking...
Russell in action at the wheel!
To get into the real off-roading territory, we had to go through this...about a 2-3 foot deep mud puddle. We just crept our way through so not to get too much mud on the Jeep! ;)
Ah, it was worth coming...look how pretty!
Two women have recently recommended the book 