Strangling Your Husband?

This past week we had a great Enrichment night! The theme was Love is a Verb- love is an action. I thought I'd share some of the thoughts and things shared- I came home with the desire to remember to put more focus on Darrell and I, and not give everything I have to the kids so there is nothing left for Darrell.
The first class was on dating after marriage, based off a book called How to Date Your Wife, by Stan Cronin.
There are 5 different types of dates: Daily, weekly, quarterly, anniversary, and 5 year trips. Here are some examples given on each of them.
Daily: little things like a phone call, a note, showing affection- nothing that costs a lot of money, more just showing you care.
Weekly: short, fun, close to home, but lasting a few hours.
Quarterly: A little more expensive and require more planning. Weekend getaway, over night at a B and B, a Broadway play.
Anniversary: Should be special, can last as long as you want, but NEVER let it go with out celebrating it somehow.
5 Year Trips: Plan several years in advance so you can save money. Make good memories. For example: to save $3500 to go to Hawaii, you need to save $700 a year, $58.30 a month, or $13.57 a week.
There was also a long list of ideas of things you can do, some costing nothing and some more expensive. Some are silly like a pillow fight- to going to a play which obviously costs more money. I'll list a few.
Play a board game
go to a drive in
visit garage sales
play card games
karaoke
go camping
go kayaking
watch sunrise
midnight movie
visit and art gallery
go to a play
go white water rafting
go to a car show
I'm sure you get the idea- small and cheap, or more planning and more expensive, but the bottom line is to make memories.

The next class was based off the book Strangling Your Husband Is NOT An Option, by Marilee Boyack. I loved this book- we read it for book group a while ago.
The 5 Don'ts of Wifehood:
Don't put other's before him (children, friends...)
Don't put things before him (computers, always wanting more then what you have...)
Don't speak ill of him (how would we feel if our husbands were with their friends and airing our dirty laundry?)
Don't glue yourself to your spouse (It's ok to have different interests and some time away from each other. It's ok to be the wife who is happy his husband gets to go fishing for a weekend, since we get our time away also)
Don't kill what worked in the beginning of the marriage (don't try to change him- remember what you loved about him in the beginning, don't try to make him like you..)

The 5 Do's of Wifehood:
Do honor your parents (but don't let them in your marriage- it is your marriage not yours and your parents..)
Do value him, don't covet another (no explanation needed)
Do value yourself (take care of yourself-)
Do gain an understanding of what a man is (men think COMPLETELY different then women, we were made different for a reason)
Do value your commitment (you are committed to this marriage and helping each other..)

We then had to list 10 things we love about our husbands, here is what I listed:
1. He is always willing to give me "me" time
2. I LOVE his blue eyes!
3. I love that he always lets me spoon him till I fall asleep even though he can't go to sleep in that position
4. He always checks the doors and on all the kids before he gets in bed
5. He works very hard everyday so I can be home with our girls
6. He is a worthy priesthood holder
7. He will put my electric blanket in the bed to warm it up for us
8. He will do the grocery shopping- and yes he kind of likes it
9. He is a great example to me of someone with self control in LOT'S of things
10. I love what a great dad he is- he loves each of the girls so much!

I really enjoyed the reminders on the importance of dating and keeping the spark alive. It's hard to divide myself between being a wife, being a mom, and making sure I have time to be me.... But I know if our marriage is strong our family will be strong as well!