Power Of Getting Away

Dear Kids,

I can not wait to getaway with your dad tomorrow.

Your dad and I do a very good job keeping up good communication, checking in with each other, talking about the schedules, maintaining alone time together after your bedtime, reading together, praying together... doing a bunch of things to keep our relationship up. But no matter what there are interruptions from children, someone calling on the phone, people dropping by, loud noises while trying to have a dinner conversation, just DISTRACTIONS. It is a daily choice we make to love each other... and sometimes it is hard. That is part of marriage.

Your dad and I are also BOTH the kind of people who need connection, very regularly and deeply. Just living 'day in and day out' is definitely not good enough for us to keep our souls aligned with each other. Life is so busy and getting busier, I don't know how else to keep our connection just for us, without getaways. Getting away is powerful. To just 'be'. No one pulling on our skirt. No one interrupting our thoughts. No one knocking on our door.

Getaways are powerful because of just focusing on our relationship. Reconnecting. Flirting. Getting to know each other where we currently are and the personal space we are in together over and over and over again. Life changes. People change. If as a couple you are not taking that time to make sure you are truly connected, truly on the same page, truly communicating, then your relationship will not help you to be satisfied or happy.

I once had a mentor of mine tell me that he truly believed one of the biggest reasons (besides the Lord and spiritual connection) the thing that helped his marriage the most over the years was this philosophy:

One night a week
One day a month
One week a year

Find a spouse that you love to just be with. I LOVE to be with your dad. I love to talk with him. I love to read with him. I love to walk with him. I love to flirt with him. I love to connect and dream and laugh with him. I love his passion for me and the passion I have for him. I just LOVE him. Getting away together helps us to feel 'US' again.

When we getaway we actually have a rule that we can't talk about our kids, family, extended family, finances, people, world events.... We can ONLY talk about us and our relationship. How WE are doing. Are we fulfilling each other needs enough? How can we be out-of-the-box towards each other more? What can we do to fill each others love buckets better? What do we need to work on? How can we love each other more? It is amazing how much it does for us to just talk about us and focus on US.

Just remember... I married your dad to be with your dad forever. I am grateful to have all of you in our lives, but eventually you will grow and have families of your own. I remember my dad saying that to us, "I didn't get married to be with you guys forever, I married your mom because I am madly in love with her and want to be with HER forever!". And I fully agree.

I love you... and remember that I will always adore and be in love with your dad and love him like crazy too.

Remember: The most important thing for happy kids, is for mom and dad to be happy together. It takes WORK. It is not always picture perfect. Do everything you can to be connected! To getaway. To just 'be'. It is worth it.

I love you,

Your Mom