16 January 2009

Just Because...

I never got around to doing an "I Resolve" post so I will tell you a little about what I want from 2009. See 2008 was about my battle with my weight. I have not finished that battle, but everything is in place to succeed and maintain so that is not my number one focus anymore. I decided to focus more on my family. To spend more time playing and focusing on my children individually (Kirstyn starts Kindergarten in 2009...agh!) and to spend more time focusing on mine and David's friendship and our marriage.

A few years ago David and I attended a marriage conference at our church. The speaker was Gary Chapman (the 5 Love Languages guy). Anyway, at that conference he made a statement that I have not forgotten. "When you have the marriage that you dream of for your children's future, then you can stop working on your marriage." Wow. So true. I have a great marriage but it is not perfect and it requires work so I have signed myself up for the 1 Cor 7:5 Challenge over at The Diaper Diaries. (There is still time to sign up!)



And then today I found out about this Valentine's Carnival over at We Are THAT Family. I think it will be fun to read every one's stories about their True Loves and I might even win a prize. Go on, plan to join and lower my chances of winning... it's okay, really.



So, anybody got any ideas for inexpensive date nights? Also, do you take your kids on "dates" to spend one on one time with them?

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8 comments:

Jen said...

What a great resolve! I love it! I love that 5 love languages book and I love the quote you put on here. What a great saying to go by. I think it's wonderful that you're resolving to spend more individual time with your kids and focus more on you and your hubby's relationship. We must cherish our family. They are what TRULY matters.

As for dates with the kids. . . I haven't really done that, but I've been wanting to start at least with my 3 and 1/2 yr old. Tomorrow I'm taking her out just her and I to a Dinosaur show and I'm so excited to get to spend that 1 on 1 time with her.

thediaperdiaries said...

Thanks for the shout out!!

Kamis Khlopchyk said...

Awesome resolutions Natalie! I do try to do something with each of my kids every now and then but I really find that they prefer doing things with all four of us. I think because that is more infrequent with me working and Jay working at different times. They get that one on one with us but not the 4 on 4 so much.

:)

Stacy said...

I don't really have a chance to do much just one on one with the kids. With Dan working 2 jobs its just not possible. But, we do try and do family nights once a week. Saturday we all sit down to dinner (its the only night we are all home) together and then afterwards we play board games.

Unknown said...

I have yet to do my new years resolution post...

I like what you are trying to do in 09 and I wish you all the best!

Debbie said...

We did the dates with our kids when they were young. Just something simple - pancakes at IHOP or ice cream. Fun days.

Sarah said...

Great post. My hubby and I are trying to figure out what to do on our date night - so I don't have suggestions yet!

Anonymous said...

Our local theatre has 1/2 price matinee nights one night a week. Even cheaper is just finding a trail to walk, bikeride, or rollerblade or something. Just some ideas. I like the idea of giving each child some one on one time with each parent but I hear what Kami is saying too. In this day and age where both parents most likely have to work, the kids do cherish the family time. I guess each family has to find out what they could use more of.