Category: Refreshment in marriage

Travels on the Scenic Route
Refreshment in marriage · The Scenic Route

Travels on the Scenic Route

RefreshHer8 Comments

Taking the Scenic Route in marriage is not just going the long way to get somewhere, it’s being intentional about spending time together as a couple. It’s about doing something on a whim. It’s about being two, but one…talking, sharing time, making a memory and adding to the blessing of your marriage, all while perhaps also taking a long or new path to get to your destination.

We’ve had lots of home scenic route journies during the Coronavirus, but what a blessing to be able to make a quick trip to Kentucky this week to visit my parents and also take the scenic route! My husband and I wanted to go see my parents, but didn’t want to stay “with” them, due to Covid 19. Though it was odd to just go up for the day, I was thankful to get to be with them in their home for lunch, and then have the blessing of taking them on a country drive!

My husband has a sixth sense about directions. He just took a back road and got us exactly where we needed to end up! He’s pretty amazing! My parents live near Lexington, Ky in the beautiful rolling hills. Our drive took us past some lovely horse farms and acreage.

Central Kentucky

When we finished our visit and left my parent’s home, we headed to Berea. We could have stayed at a chain hotel, but taking the Scenic Route led us to stay at the historic Boone Tavern. It’s so quaint and lovely. It was quiet (well after the protesters were sent home) and we enjoyed our stay!

Outside Boone Tavern

We could have gone to Cracker Barrel and had breakfast, but taking the Scenic Route led us to eat at the Tavern. It was so delicious – albeit, quite different, due to the Coronavirus’ restrictions. The food was still superb and the service top-notch!

Pardon the funny expression on my husband’s face, I think I caught him between words! Dale was reading some Scripture to me while we enjoyed our coffee and waited for our food.

When we left Berea, Dale decided to hit the scenic route and drive over Clinch Mountain instead of our normal route. He had heard about its beauty, and also a quaint place we could get a late lunch in an article in Blue Ridge Magazine.
The Clinch Mountain Lookout Restaurant was obviously right in front of the mountain views! The Scenic Route led us to eat our delicious hamburger outside where we could enjoy the scenery!

This was our view from our outside table!

It took a little while for our meal to be prepared, but that’s one thing about the Scenic Route – you have to take time to slow down. While we waited, we sat in the porch swing overlooking the mountains and the lake below. We certainly couldn’t complain about that!

The burger was worth waiting for…

We always split a meal – and half of this lunch was plenty! We had a Dr. Pepper Burger. It had pepper bacon on it and a coffee rub. Wow!

We made some good memories, we got to slow down, we found a new restaurant to eat in, and we learned a new route we’d love to travel again! These are all perks of taking the Scenic Route!

This weekend when you and your spouse head out, why take the straight path to your destination when you could have taken the Scenic Route? You’ll be glad you made the effort!

If you enjoyed this post, you can see other Scenic Route trips here, here, and here for starters!

Coronavirus · Refreshment in marriage

Improving Your Marriage While Staying Home Together

RefreshHer2 Comments

iron a

nug·get
ˈnəɡət/
noun
plural noun: nuggets
a small lump of gold or other precious metal found ready-formed in the earth.
A small chunk or lump of another substance.
Valuable items don’t have to be large to be worth much, and the same goes for pieces of advice.  Even little nuggets of advice can be valuable.  That’s exactly what I want to share with you today…some nuggets of marriage advice.
I’ve heard (and also witnessed myself!) that spending so much time at home together during these Coronavirus and Safer At Home days, is causing marriage relationships to be strained at times. We love our spouse and love being with them, but due to stress, added meal prep, extra dishes and a change in our normal routines, the difficulty of it all is often played out in our relationships.  
I’m going to share five nuggets of truth that could help ease the stress!

In this post I talked about appreciating the differences between ourselves and our husbands.  My little preference was about the shower bottles’ lids being closed.  I even said that my husband had no idea that that bothered me!  Every day when I cleaned the shower, I would simply snap his shampoo and body wash lids back down, but I never said anything to him about it.

Guess what?

shower pic

Ever since then his bottles have been shut tighter than a toddler’s teeth at supper time!  Yep, he read my post and took it on himself to take care of that tiny issue! (How sweet is that?!) What did it take?  Communication.

Nugget #1 ~ When there are things that bother you, lovingly speak up. 
I’m clearly not talking about little pet peeves like mine; I’m talking about things that would really cause a rift in your relationship.  Many times things go on and on simply because we don’t share it with our spouse.  Either we think he should know it (!) or we’re afraid to tell him.  Sharing what’s on your heart might not remedy the issue immediately, but at least you can get it out there where it can be discussed and prayed about, and possibly have a conclusion decided upon very quickly.

When I was changing our sheets this week, I noticed that the top hem was really wrinkled.  I started to continue to make the bed and then I remembered that I usually always iron the guest bed.  Then I had another thought I needed to make our sheets pretty, too.

iron

Nugget *2 – Never do for others and neglect your husband.
If he’s our priority (and he should be), we won’t want to forget to show him the special kindness that we do for other people. Right now perhaps we’re thinking of thoughtful things we can do for our friends and family, but have you considered what special gesture you could do for your husband?  Need a few suggestions?

~Be quick to respond with a positive word when he suggests taking a walk, a drive in the country or doing a project in or around your home. 
~Make meal time special by setting the table and/or fixing one of his favorite foods.
~Look your best by simply getting ready each day.  That doesn’t mean you have to dress to the nine’s, but put on a little make up and put on real clothes – something as simple as jeans and a cute shirt with the addition of a necklace or earrings.

Continue reading “Improving Your Marriage While Staying Home Together” →

Compromise On the Scenic Route
Dates · Marriage · Refreshment in marriage · The Scenic Route

Compromise On the Scenic Route

RefreshHer4 Comments

The scenic route is usually the long way to get somewhere.  However, it’s usually the most beautiful and adventurous way to travel!  Enjoying marriage on the scenic route means taking the time to invest into your marriage.

The truth is, marriage can be a bumpy ride.
You might get lost, wondering why you ever got on the road in the first place.
You might be looking for an exit when there isn’t one. Continue reading “Compromise On the Scenic Route” →

Refreshment in marriage · Winter

Refresh Your Marriage – Get Out!

RefreshHer3 Comments

Unsplash_7crB2ccrmPo

This week I posted about adding a little Valentine’s Day decor to my home, just to add some warmth and joy in the month of January.  Along with the long days and months of winter, marriage can feel like it’s cold, gray and maybe even a little icy at times.  It’s so important to have a sensitive spirit about that so you can refresh your relationship, add some light and sparkle to what has become mundane! Continue reading “Refresh Your Marriage – Get Out!” →