Game Night

It's no secret that I can be a bit competitive. I enjoy trash talking, though I have definitely been known to eat my words, and I absolutely want to win. I'm not crazy aggressive to where you wouldn't want to play with me, though, all in good fun. :)

When Robert & I were dating & engaged, we loved to play card games. We'd play by ourselves or with friends, but at some point every weekend, and often throughout the week too, we'd enjoy a game night together.

Through the busyness of life, we haven't enjoyed game night together as regularly as in the early days. But every once in a while, we enjoy a cutthroat game of Speed or Dutch Blitz.

This past weekend we enjoyed just that! We spiced it up a bit & enjoyed chocolate fondue with fruit {and some animal crackers thrown in, that's how we roll} and played Speed & Dutch Blitz. 

What about you? What are some of your favorite games to play? Do you have a favorite at home date night?

Source

*I found this quote after I wrote this post and thought it was perfect! :)

 

Linking up with Sassy Wife/Classy Life, The Ledford Life, Frankly My Dear for Tuesday Tea.

 

Wife After God: A book review

If you know me very well, you know I'm passionate about marriage and family.  My marriage and family are far from perfect, but it's not something I take lightly. My marriage to Robert is a beautiful gift God has given me and through our marriage, He has tremendously blessed us with our children. So, to think about something and/or something coming in and trying to damage my marriage and/or family makes me down right feisty. Hard to imagine, I know! Ha!!

So, when I was given the opportunity to review the book, Wife After God, I was thrilled!! This book is designed to draw women closer to their husbands by drawing them closer to God. You can learn more about it here. It has been wonderful!

I'm amazed by the writer's (Jennifer Smith) ability to speak directly into my heart about my marriage. She provides thought provoking, and sometimes convicting, daily devotions with daily challenges to put into practice immediately.

One of the biggest things God has been teaching me the past year or so is that my marriage isn't about making me happy, necessarily, but, rather, about bringing Him glory through my marriage. This devotional has been a great tool in helping me achieve that and keep my perspective in line.

I highly recommend this devotional. In fact, I'm planning to go through it again and would love for you to do it with me! We could have weekly chats, or even quick daily check ins, about how God is working in our marriages. Would you be interested in that?!

If you'd like to purchase the book, you can do so here. Thank you, Jennifer, for the opportunity to review your book! It has already been a tremendous blessing to me and many others to come, I'm sure!

Until next time,
Kristal

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7 years and still in love

Yesterday, Robert and I celebrated our 7 year wedding anniversary. I can't believe it's been 7 years already! It has gone so fast, yet when I reflect on the last 7 years, I'm amazed at the changes we've experienced in our lives. We started out as two young college graduates and became parents to two beautiful children. I truly find myself loving Robert more and more everyday. Sure, we have bad days...sometimes lots of them in a row. But God has confirmed, in many different ways, through the years that Robert is the perfect man for me. I am so grateful and blessed!

I have found myself reflecting a lot on our marriage and how we have grown together and what we have learned, so far, on this journey. I'm sure if you asked us separately, we'd have different things we have learned. But, I'm sure there would be some of the same, too. I thought I'd take a minute to share some of those things that I have personally learned, and continue to learn, everyday. These are in no particular order....

1. Always give your best. This world is demanding! It wants the best of us all the time. And often, our husbands suffer. They get our leftovers when, really, they should be receiving our best. I'm so thankful I'm able to stay home and raise our children, but let me tell you, there are days I am completely spent. I've reached my limit and just need a break! But, this isn't the fault of my husband. He doesn't deserve to have my stress taken out on him. Sure, we all have off days...that's fine! But as a norm, my husband and family need to receive the best of me.

2. Don't stop dating. It's easy to fall into a routine after your married and stop dating each other. I've learned how important it is to keep dating my husband. When I say dating, I don't solely mean fancy dinners out or Friday night movies. Sure, those have their place and are very important. But, I'm talking about getting to know my husband, his fears, his dreams, etc. Although some aspects of us are the same as the day we got married, we have both grown and changed as individuals and I never want to miss finding out who my husband is becoming just because I've stopped dating him.

3. Give grace. We all mess up. We're going to let each other down. Expectations will not be met. But give grace! And give grace some more when you don't want to or don't think you can. Someday you'll need grace, too.

4. Strive to understand, not be understood. I have learned, and continue to learn everyday, that selfishness has no place in marriage, or any relationship for that matter. The minute I stop trying to "hound my point home" or "make him get it" and try to look at things from his perspective, he gets it. Or at least understands where I'm coming from.

5. Communicate! I cannot read his mind, he cannot read mine. Even when I wish so badly that after all these years he would just know, he doesn't. And neither do I. It is so important to say exactly how you feel or what you mean and not expect him/her to just know. And don't beat around the bush either. Just say it!

6. Ask God to continually make you fall in love with your husband. Satan wants nothing more than to tear family's apart. A form of "insurance" to prevent that from happening is never falling out of love with your husband. Love is a choice. And it's very important not to forget about those little things that brought you together in the first place.

7. Be his biggest fan. The world is rough, harsh, critical, demanding and so many other things. He needs to know I'm in his corner, behind him all the way, no matter what. I might be the only encouragement he receives today or tomorrow or the next day. He needs a cheerleader and I'm just the girl for the job!

So, those are some things I'm learning everyday. I know I have a lot more to learn, too. I'm so thankful for our marriage, imperfections and all. He's a wonderful husband and father and I'm blessed to be his wife!

 

 

Until next time,

Kristal