This week we are preparing to go away for our 31st anniversary for 10 days – woo hoo! I can hardly wait. As a result we decided to postpone our date night this week to get ready for 10 days of date nights. Valentine’s Day is this Sunday, and I thought it would be good to share with you our tradition for Project 52. (if you would like to join Project 52, you can check out the details and even print off an agreement to sign. Simply click on the button above!)
Since our anniversary is 10 days after Valentine’s Day, Tom and I have always divided the planning; I plan Valentine’s Day, and he plans our anniversary. This has worked well for us, and it’s been a lot of fun.
Tom’s favorite Valentine was one year I mailed him an invitation to dinner at “my place”. I told him the evening was semi-formal and to arrive no later than 6:30p. In order to get ready for our evening together, he went to a friend’s house to change after work, because he wasn’t allowed home until the set time. When he rang the doorbell, I didn’t expect him to have a bouquet of flowers for me! What a sweet gesture.
I set a beautiful table in our bedroom using flowers from our azalea bushes (always blooming on Valentine’s Day), along with a couple of candles and our nicest place settings. My children helped me clean and decorate our room. (I think it’s important for them to see how I love to romance their Dad, and it’s nice to have the extra help!)
I made sure there was soft music playing and a wonderful meal we could enjoy together. After dinner, I told Tom it was time for the concert. “Concert? What concert at this time of night?” he asked. I told him just to wait and see. Dessert and coffee would be served at the concert. 
I left him in our room while I set up the living room with our dessert tray and coffee. I moved the love seat right in front of the TV where I had Jim Brickman’s, My Romance DVD ready to play. My teenaged daughter had a mirrored ball from one of her parties that I set up with a flashlight on the fireplace mantel. I started a fire and then called Tom to come out of our room.
His face lit up when he saw the way I had rearranged the living room to suit our needs. He loved every detail. The music was very romantic and on our favorite song, we danced together to the glistening lights.
This is one night we always talk about as being the most romantic. And it was one of the easiest nights to plan. Here is the video of our favorite song:
Valentine’s Day is Sunday, but as Christians we should celebrate the love we share as husbands and wives regularly, not annually. If we are not pursuing our spouse with the same purpose and intent as when we first met, then it’s most likely we’ve begun to drift. Drifting can be relaxing – it takes no effort. However, boats that drift are led along by whichever current is the strongest. It could be children, career, hormones – you name it; you’re certainly heading “somewhere”, but not necessarily where you want to go.
How do we avoid drifting along year after year? By purposing to romance our spouse because it’s the right thing to do – even if our feelings aren’t on board.
Dennis and Barbara Rainey with Family Life, have a new book titled, Recapturing Romance, that esteems this practice.
Dennis says, “To ensure that we don’t miss the importance of romance, God dedicated an entire book of the Bible, Song of Solomon, to the subject. Reading this poetic book is like eavesdropping on a romantic dialogue between a man and his wife. Solomon describes his love as a hot fire. “Even much water,” he declares, “cannot put out the flame of love” (Song of Solomon 8:7, Contemporary English Version).We need that fire in our marriages. The problem is that within the first year or two after the wedding ceremony, something happens in most marriages. Those romantic flames which burned so brightly during engagement seem to crumble into faint, glowing embers.
What is it about marriage that seems to douse our romantic creativity? At some point in almost every marriage, a couple realizes that they just don’t experience the same romantic feelings they once enjoyed. As one person cynically observed, “The period of engagement is like an exciting introduction to a dull book.”
How sad – comparing marriage to a dull book! What can we do to prevent this from happening?
First, we encourage you to take this survey compiled by the Raineys – Do You Have The Heart Of A Lover? It will help you determine how you are currently doing in this regard. Secondly, have your spouse take it too. This will provide a great opportunity for you to talk about things you may or may not have taken the time to discuss. Best of all, it will help keep your marriage from drifting along on the sea of life. Communication is the rudder that steers our ship; Romance is what makes the voyage a joy, and God is the One who controls the currents we face. Beware! There are fierce pirates (the Bible calls them “little foxes”) that would love nothing more than to sabotage our marriage. We’ll talk about that in another post!
In the meantime, let’s practice purposeful communication and romance with our spouse on a regular basis. This will not only improve the quality of our relationship, but it will make Valentine’s Day one day on the calendar to celebrate gloriously what God has been doing all year long!
This is one of our favorite weeks of the year – Valentine’s. Have you made plans? Or do you prefer to forgo celebrating this day because of the crowds and commercialism. May we encourage you to celebrate the day, but in a way that you both enjoy. For us that has been with a quiet romantic evening at home. We’ll post this Wednesday one of our favorite Valentine’s Days of the 30+ we’ve celebrated as husband and wife. But please, don’t miss this once a year chance to go all out in expressing your love for the closest friend, other than Christ, you’ll have in this life. It really is a great opportunity to be creative and have fun!
If you would like to venture out on the town this week – here’s what’s happening in Orlando:
CENTRAL
- Downtown – Ivanhoe Village – Tuesday, February 9th is the Gallery Walk from 6:30p – 9p. Located on Virginia Drive; the event is FREE.
- Loch Haven Park – Mennello Museum of American Art – 8th Annual Orlando Folk Festival – Saturday and Sunday, February 13th and 14th. 10a – 5p. Adults $4.
- Harry P. Leu Gardens – A Night of Swing – Sunday, February 14th from 6p – 9p. Gardens close at 3p. and reopen for this special event. Bring your chairs and coolers for a romantic evening of great music under the stars. Cost is $25 nonmembers and $20 for members.
- Winter Park – Popcorn Flicks in the Park – Saturday, February 13th in Central Park. Featured movie is Love Story and begins at 7p. Movie and popcorn are FREE.
- Winter Park – Big Band Bach – Saturday, February 13th at 3:30p enjoy this FREE concert in the heart of Central Park.
NORTH
- Uptown Altamonte – Friday Night Live on February 12th from 7p – 9p. Enjoy live music by Ashley Locheed Quartet. FREE.
- Casselberry – Date Nights: Arts Amore. On Friday, February 12th from 7p – 10p. Cost is $20 per couple for residents and $25 per couple for non-residents. Bring someone special and enjoy a romantic night out creating original watercolor paintings. Bring your dinner & favorite beverage. Register online at www.casselberry.org/register.
- Sanford – Thursday, February 11th – Party Gras – located in the historic district of Downtown Sanford – the cost is $7 and includes food and drink samples plus a chance to win a $100 door prize.
EAST
- Avalon Park – Dancing In The Moonlight on Saturday, February 13th from 8p – 11p. Cost is $5 in advance, $7 at the door.
- Orlando Valentine Swing Dance – Saturday, February 13th. from 8p – 12a. Cost is $12 with a free beginner swing dance lesson from 8 – 9.
- Daytona Beach – Daytona 500 is Sunday, February 14th. 43 Of the Best Stock Car racers in the world take center stage in the Daytona 500. Nascar’s biggest, richest and most prestigous race. For information and tickets: 386.947.6800
SOUTH
- Hunter’s Creek – Movie in the Park – Valentines Edition, on Friday, February 12th beginning at 7p. Featured movie is Beauty and the Beast. Osprey Park Lawn.
- Lake Wales – Bok Tower Gardens – Valentine’s Day Carillon Concerts at 1p and 3p. Cost is FREE with admission to park.
WEST
- Downtown Disney – House of Blues presents Sister Hazel on Friday, February 12th at 8p.
- Universal’s Portofino Bay Hotel presents Harbor Nights Romantico on Friday, February 12th from 6:30p – 9p. Cost varies.
French Country Cottage
I love France, and I love the french language – it’s so….romantic! This is why from time to time I look up the french word for different words and insert them into a post. It adds a touch of the French Countryside to our Vineyard – and I learn something new. Our Vineyard Logo is a picture Tom and I took while visiting Southern France. This was the view as we took our daily walks down a one lane, dirt road. The picture above is another favorite – A happy memory for us and a beautiful picture for our place on the web. It’s decorating with a purpose – displaying special memories of places we’ve been.
Today is my favorite part of our Master Bedroom Redux; when we decorate our space. Something I’ve done for years is rotate knick knacks and pictures on the walls. Take a fresh look at what you currently have in your room. Remove all pictures of other family members. Your bedroom is to be a place that celebrates your relationship as husband and wife. Instead, bring in pictures of places you’ve been and pictures of each other. Each item should be a favorite and something that represents a special memory.
Don’t be afraid to take things off your living room walls and use it in your room. Moving something you love from one room to another makes you appreciate it as if it were new again! Try it! I guarantee you’ll see and enjoy it, and it will make your space look new too!
When Tom and I were living in our first apartment, Tom had lived there for over a year before we were married. Once I moved in, I took an accent table and moved it to a new corner of the living room. Tom noticed it as soon as he walked in the door saying, “I like that table over there!” He had never considered moving it from the place it has always been. When we did, he noticed it everytime he walked in the room! In fact, it has become a long standing joke between us. Any time we make a change in our home we say, “I like that table over there!”
Our Master Bedroom
So, Assignment #4 is simple – decorate your walls and tables with things from other parts of your home that you love. You may also want to print pictures from places you’ve been together or wall hangings of places you dream of going. Tom and I have a picture of Venice, Italy, hanging over our bed because it’s a place we have dreamed of visiting one day. Make your room a haven of memories and dreams, and we are sure you’ll find it a place you both look forward to retreating to at the end of a hard day.
Beginning Sunday, February 7th is National Marriage Week. It’s a week designated to draw attention to the importance of strengthening marriage in all cultures. Strong marriages strengthen the society in which we live. Take some time to evaluate your own marriage – what is one area in need of attention? Don’t wait until the rope completely unravels – tend the problem now and prevent a whole lot more damage in the future.
Our blog offers a room specifically for those wanting help! It’s called The Wine Press room, and it’s completely FREE. In it you’ll find various topics offering biblical counsel and help. Sure, it takes purposeful time to go after areas of weakness, but the benefits will not only add years to your marriage, but life to those years!
The first Wednesday of each month this year we are going to have a guest writer. Many of you know Jeff and Vicki Taulbee. They are dear friends, and when we learned that Vicki gave Jeff the gift of 12 Passport Dates around the world for Christmas – we knew it was something that had to be shared on The Romantic Vineyard. Today you’re in for a real treat! Vicki not only loves her husband, but she is full of creativity and enthusiasm when it comes to romancing him. In addition, she’s humble, so she’d be the last one to say the above things about herself. We’ll let you judge for yourself:
Hello! My name is Vicki Taulbee. I’ve been married to my husband, who is the most kind and gentle man that I know, for a little over 4 years. In that time we have had the privilege of welcoming 3 children into our family! Needless to say, life can be a little crazy at times. In the whirlwind of diaper changing, potty training, meal planning, and home making, sadly, romancing my husband tends to take a back seat.
So, this year, I decided, as a gift to my husband, I would plan one special date night on the 22nd of each month. I chose the 22nd because it’s our Anniversary day. My hope and prayer is that not only would it bless and serve my husband but it would also stir my affections for him as well.
To make these times even more special I informed him that over the course of the next year, we would be going on a “Trip around the World” with each date night taking on a different theme related to a particular country or region. I’m excited about this year long adventure and trust that God will give lots of creative and special ways for Jeff and I to spend time together.
I’m looking forward to planning our “travels”. Some evenings we will go out and sometimes we’ll stay in but whatever we do, my God use it to draw us closer to one another and enjoy the gift of marriage that He has graciously given.
Well, with all of that in mind, we begin our journey!
Our first destinations………….Japan, China and Taiwan!
International travel requires a passport! So, I was excited to find a miniature passport at Michaels craft store! It will be a perfect and fun way to chronicle our “travels” over the course of the year. I filled in all the information along with a picture of Jeff and placed three clip art pictures of China, Japan and Taiwan on the first page.
Sushi For 2
Our evening began in the dining room of our home. I decorated the table with a couple of Asian cups and place mats that we own along with a map book open to continent of Asia. A plate of Sushi was waiting for Jeff to munch on as I explained the “Travel Itinerary” for the evening which proceeded as follows:
After enjoying our sushi (that I picked up from Publix earlier that day) we hoped in the car and headed to our first destination. Our journey would take us to a small area of town just Northeast of Downtown Orlando where within a couple of blocks there are several Asian markets and restaurants. While in the car we listened to an Asian inspired Jazz CD that I borrowed from the library. The music was really good, by the way! We arrived at Martial Arts World in time to take a 45 minute martial arts class. This was a first for both of us! We had so much fun and boy did I sweat!!! Thankfully we had on comfortable clothes, per the advice given to me by the instructor when I called to make the initial arrangements. The gentleman who led the class was very good, and he really enjoyed the fact that we were there on a date!
After cooling down we headed to our next destination. Dong-A Oriental Market. If you have never been to an Asian supermarketbefore, it’s an experience all on its own. So many aisles filled with (from our perspective) many different and unusual products. Unfortunately the store was closing soon so we didn’t get to stay as long as we hoped but we were there long enough to pick up a jar of minced ginger (which, I really enjoy using to cook with these days!).
Upon leaving the market, we headed up the street to Anh Hong Vietnamese restaurant for dinner. I had previously purchased a coupon from Restaurant.com for this establishment. We both ordered dishes that were new to us and thoroughly enjoyed our dinner as we chatted about what muscles might ache tomorrow as a result of our class. J I love spending time with my husband and I love that we were able to experience something new together. It’s the stuff that makes great memories!
I’ll let you know where our adventure takes us next month! Thanks!
It’s bound to occur at some point – a wonderful date night has been planned and greatly anticipated. Hopes are high for love and unfettered romance, then it happens – a fight ensues, and the evening ends up a far cry away from what you had dreamed.
Why? Why do we fight when we’re desiring the exact opposite. C.J. Mahaney offers a 7 minute audio in answer to this question based on a familiar passage of scripture from James 4:1-3.
Take a moment and listen to it. It will certainly help the next time a date night with your spouse is about to be sabotaged by sin.
Punxsutawney Phil
It’s hard to believe it’s February! My favorite month of the year! Tom and I will celebrate our 31st anniversary on the 24th, and we usually go away the second week to North Carolina just for us. We love this week of the year. It’s our time to unwind from our busy schedules to do basically nothing together. Tom is by far my favorite person to do nothing with. Of course, I love all the somethings we do, but even nothing is fun with him by my side.
Here’s what’s going on around town this week:
MISCELLANEOUS
Tuesday, February 2nd is Groundhog’s Day! Will we have 6 more week’s of winter? Punxsutawney Phil is the only one who knows! In celebration why not bake some Groundhog Cookies? They’re served up every year for Groundhog’s Day, and have become an annual tradition. You can also send your spouse a special E-Card! A fun way to let them know that winter or spring you love them just the same!
For a full list of Live Jazz Performances this week around town click here!
CENTRAL
- Uptown Altamonte – Crane’s Roost Ampitheater – Friday, February 5th – Friday Night Live Unplugged. Bring your chair or blanket and enjoy great live entertainment in a beautiful outdoor setting. Local solo and duo artists will perform on the first Friday of each month. This month enjoy an acoustic rock performance by Matt Shenk.
- Uptown Altamonte – Crane’s Roost presents Coppers and Choppers on Saturday, February 6th from 12p – 6p. FREE
- Ivanhoe Village – First Fridays Art Stroll on Friday, February 5th, 6:30p – 10p. FREE
- Plaza Theatre – Friday, February 5th, 8p. Duke Ellington in concert. Tickets are $45 – $75.
NORTH
- Mt. Dora – 35th Annual Arts Festival - Saturday, February 6th and Sunday, February 7th from 9a. t0 5p. Come enjoy over 285 artists’ works. Call the Mount Dora Center for the Arts for more information 352-383-0880. FREE
- Eustis – (Downtown) First Friday Street Fest on Friday, February 5th from 6p – 10p. Enjoy live entertainment on 3 stages, Artists’ Row, kids’ venues, food court, soft drinks, water, beer, wine and margaritas. Visit our local restaurants and shops. Come by boat or car. FREE
EAST
- Avalon Park – Father/Daughter Dance on Saturday, February 6th from 6:30 – 8:30p. Cost is $15 per Father with as many daughters as he has included. This is a great way to teach your daughter how a young man should treat her on a date.
- Tuskawilla – St. Stephen Catholic Church – Winterfest 2010, ncludes Midway thrill rides, children’s activities, bingo, live entertainment, auctions, food, pies and cakes. Silent Auction, 2pm – 5pm and Live Auction, 7pm on Saturday, Feb 5th. FREE.
SOUTH
- St. Cloud Main Street Farmers Market – Saturday, February 6th from 8a – 12p. FREE
- St. Cloud Gospel Sing – Saturday, February 6th from 9a – 4p. Veteran’s Park – FREE.
WEST
- Winter Garden – Downtown – Friday, February 5th enjoy An Evening with Fellsway, Smooth Jazz Trio. 7p – 9p. FREE
How are you doing at keeping up with our weekly assignments? We hope you’re starting to notice a difference in your special place.
As a review we’ve been (1) practicing making our beds daily; (2) we’ve cleaned out the cluttered piles; (3) we’ve deep cleaned our space. The challenge is to continue decluttering each day in order to keep the order that’s been achieved so far. Good job, by the way!
Imagine if you will this scenario: You’ve been working in the yard all day. It’s been one of the hottest days of the year, and you’re a dirty mess. You look at your watch only to realize you need to be at a dinner function in 30 minutes. Quickly you wash up at the sink the best you can, put on your finest and grab your car keys. You glance in the mirror one last time before leaving the house amazed how “together” you look, but know how dirty you truly are! The mirror cannot reveal what’s concealed. You may look presentable, but the evening won’t be as enjoyable because you know the truth, which keeps you from relaxing.
So, too, we can have a bedroom that looks clean and tidy, but we know what’s hidden from view. Under the bed, in the drawers and stuffed in the closets can be a total mess! If we are serious about creating a restful place for the two of us, then these hidden spaces must be conquered as well. Otherwise, our spouse may rest, but we won’t!
Assignments #3: Make a list of the hidden areas in your bedroom that need to be cleaned and organized. Start with the smallest spaces first and work your way up to the largest, most challenging. As you complete the smaller tasks and see the quick results it will provide fuel to keep going until you’ve covered everything on your list. As a special treat – we have a freebie for you to cash in on once you’ve completed your assignment – it’s something delicious and FREE from Einstein’s Bagels. Enjoy!
The Bible says in Proverbs, “A merry heart does good, like medicine”. How true!
It seems to us that life has been quite serious as of late. We are busy comforting those who have lost loved ones, helping those who are struggling in their walk with the Lord, not to mention the bombardment of bad news regarding the economy. Left to ourselves the world would seem bleak, but thankfully we are NOT alone. We have One leading us day by day who ordains each step before one is taken. What comfort – what assurance.
Debi and I were talking about the last time we had a really good laugh! Sadly, we couldn’t remember. The Bible is clear that laughter is good for us – and anyone who has had their cheeks ache from a good, long laugh knows it feels really good!
So, purpose to laugh! The gift of comedians is their ability to see humor in every day life. It’s there for all to see, yet we so often miss it. Let’s purpose to look for it and find one piece of humor to share with our spouse before the day’s end. Not only will it feel good, but the Bible promises it will be like medicine to our bones.
