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Wednesday, June 20

what LOVE has looked like lately

With so many weddings this summer and now my life long best friend's engagement and wedding coming up, I have been thinking about what our marriage has looked like lately.

Our Wedding {July 17, 2010}

All marriages go through eb and flow, and lately I feel like ryan and I have been blessed with some invaluable time to spend together during this transition time as we have moved to our new town and before our jobs have fully begun.

I am reading a book that I am sure you have all heard about entitled "Real Marriage" by Grace and Mark Driscoll that is so great. In it, it says that the best way to have a lasting marriage is to be your spouses best friend and all else will fall into place.

So in our efforts to always be each other's best friends,
love has looked like:

Nightly 2 mile walks with Sox.

Walks to Whole Foods for gelato after dinner.

Me attempting to play Call of Duty with Ryan. 
{the book talks about wives doing what the husband likes and husbands doing what the wives like}

Antique shopping for decorations.

Cooking dinner together.

Afternoons by the pool, just reading and talking.

Grocery shopping together.

Exploring our new town together, and sometimes getting lost.

Marriage is such a great gift. It takes continual work and humility to admit when you are wrong and your areas of weakness, but it is also rewarding.

There is no friend on earth that I could have who could ever be closer than Ryan.
We still have plenty to work on in marriage, and after almost two years, I realize how little I knew about it when we embarked on this journey on July 17th, 2010. BUT I do know that our friendship will carry us through to the end.

I challenge you to take a challenge with me. 
Last week I took one day and did not get on the computer at all when I was with my husband.
I just get so sucked in. 
I think I am going to make this a weekly thing and take one day 
of every week to "unplug" when I am with my him. 
Will you do this with me? 
I think it will make for a closer friendship and an even better marriage!

21 comments:

  1. My husband (also named Ryan...weird!) have been married for just under two years, too, and you're right...you pretty much know nothing before the wedding! I've learned so much in just two years and can't wait to keep learning and growing in our marriage. My hubs and I take turns planning date nights twice per month and every Sunday we go for a long walk on the beach (oh, hey, cliche!). It's definitely important to keep the friendship up!

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    1. Isn't it funny how we think we know pretty much every thing but when you start married life you realize that there is so much you don't know? I love how you and your hubby take turn planning date nights. We are planning on each planning our own "adventure" for our second anniversary to surprise each other.
      Thanks so much for stopping by and I loved you blog and am a new follower!! :)

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  2. I love this post so much! Our lives are so busy these days, we get in such a routine that we don't take the time to really focus on us.

    The both of us get in habit of getting on the computer or laying in the bed on our phones ( terrible!). Justin and I will def be joining you on this challenge . I have not heard of this book, I need to look into it!! We are getting ready to start " The Marriage You've always wanted" by Gary Chapman . It's a bible study that we can do alone and together!!

    Have a great Wednesday!

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    1. I am always reading marriage books :) my philosophy is you can't ready too many haha.
      I love the Driscoll book because it is so practical but it does not forget the real biblical truths you know.
      and I am so bad about getting sucked into blogger, facebook, twitter, instagram, etc... so I knew that I had to do something to initially spend quality time with Ryan with out all of those.
      ~Clara

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  3. this is so awesome! i am reading that same book right now!! mr. b just finished it and i'm working through it. we adore the driscoll's :) as for the unplugging.. what an awesome idea! i unplugged for a week and it was so refreshing and eye opening! it encouraged me to do it once a week, but i didn't follow through :/ but i'll try with you! :)

    ps.. you are precious!

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    1. it is such a great book! I hope I can be consistant about "unplugging" I know it will really strengthen our marriage!
      Your the best too!
      ~clara

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  4. Love this post. My husband and I do "Media Free Wednesday". Every Wednesday when we both get home from work, we put home the cell phones, computers, video games, etc. and focus on us. We chose Wednesday bc we have the weekends together but by the middle of the week, you need a refreshment time. It's amazing how that's helped us stay focused on each other in our marriage! You should try it sometime (:

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    1. Media Free Wednesday!! I love that name! We were actually thinking about making it every wednesday for the same readon you described! I love the idea!! Thanks girl!
      I hope you are having a great week and enjoy some time with you hubby this weekend!

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  5. My husband and I love our nightly walks. It is so special to have something like that you do frequently to keep connected as best friends.

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  6. Sounds good! I think I'll get off the computer right now and go cuddle with my hubby on the couch!

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    1. I think that sounds wonderful!! I am jealous! ;)

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    1. Thank You so much! :) I hope you are having a good week and are looking forward to the weekend!

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  8. Lets do it!! :)

    Loved your post!!

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  9. you guys are too cute! dan and I do a lot of the same things ... except for the cooking part. but we eat together ... does that count? ;)

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    1. I think eating together counts for sure!!! Ryan and I love to say YUM!! together!
      :)

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  10. Love this! I agree about knowing very little about what happens after the wedding. My husband and I will be married 3 years in October. I think I know so much more about him now and have a deeper love between the two of us. It is very, very easy to take our time together for granted though...looking through our phones, watching tv while the other is on the computer (like right now)...so I'm up for the challenge! One day a week unplugged with my husband...just have to make sure there's no sports or wrestling he can't miss. ;)

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  11. Such a good post Clara!! Your husband really should be your best friend! Love that you guys have been working to really spend time together! :) So... I am never on the computer or anything like that when I'm with my husband. To be fair I'm on the computer ALL day for my job, so my time with him is precious. But it's a great goal to strive for! :)

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  12. I loved this post girl! So so true! I find it is pertinent to try to spend as much time together as possible! Looks like yall are doing good finding time to spend with one another!

    Happy Thursday!

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  13. This is such a great post :) I need to get better about not being "plugged in" when I'm with the hubs and spending more time with him. Thanks for bringing this up!

    theaustinfamilydiary.blogspot.com/

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  14. this idea of unplugging for a day is such a good one - i really need to do it. the two of us lik eour technology a little too much and i think its improtant to show the other what our priorities really are.
    excited to be your newest follower!
    love,
    elisabeth
    lavitaebella-elisabeth.blogspot.com

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Thanks for stopping by my little blog! I love your comments, each of them make my day! So Comment Away!
~Clara