Jay and I haven’t been ‘dating’. Or, maybe we have been – we just haven’t called our one big LIFE together one big DATE together, which is how I’ve looked at it all these years.
Our Non-Date life has been great. Perhaps “ True Steady Dating” would be a better way to put it.
My big idea to try joining the millions of married daters came when all the planets lined up: Twins with more energy than their mother and muscling out my daily plans; Jay’s responsibilities ever increasing; reading an inspiring, lofty book about motherhood secrets that Anna gave me (Thanks Anna! see below); and a gradual realization that counseling and deliberating together could be very powerful. And how could I take counsel with my Jay unless we actually carved out a block of time alone to do that.
Hence, Friday Forum Dating was born in my mulling, malleable mind. It came to me this morning and now we’ve had our 1st one. We like it. It makes so much sense. He already had the happy obligation to attend Friday Forum, and dressed up in the morning for it. I just dressed up too – for him AND Friday Forum. The talks are inspiring and then we came home and had candlelight ‘dinner’. Downstairs, if I pull the blinds, it’s like night time. I have candles and pretty dishes. There are pinecones, big golden jingle bells, a big golden bow that came on a carrot pudding gift (thanks Linda) and that became my instant table décor. Dipped the glasses rim in water, then sugar, and placed them in the freezer for a few minutes. When they come out they are frosty and crystal-ly.
The Menu:
Soup and salad and grilled tuna/cheese sandwiches.
The soup was left over, and this meal preparation was so simple. All was ready! He was supposed to be home at 11:30 (FF is at 12:30). It didn’t happen. No worries. I’m not like I was in my twenties and get offended at these things. It ended up being even better! We darkened our bedroom and moved everything up after FF instead of before. The table is there permanently now for this very purpose. Sure, the twins were home, but when they heard what was on our agenda (Christmas Planning) there was no shout, pout or cry-I’m–tellin’-you-why, and they left us carefully alone.
Living deliberately – I think I like this planning with your one-and-only.
