Date Nights

This week one of my favorite groups gathered together after a short break.  We had a pinterest party.  We made some crafts inspired by pinterest.  One of those crafts were jars that could be a date night jar, family nights or whatever you wanted it to be.  Some ladies who home school did a field trip jar.  

The idea is you write on the craft sticks (with a sharpie marker) some ideas for your specific jar.  

Why make a jar?  Well have you ever had a conversation that goes something like this..........What do you want to do? 

The other person says, I don't care, what do you want to do? 

Well I have- many times.  Often times with my spouse.  I know there are times when I have to make decisions all day long and I don't want to make one more decision- even it is where are we going to eat dinner.   So enter in my date night jar and I don't have to have that conversation when deciding on a date destination.  

Some of my ideas were ............

• picnic at the Ocoee Center 
• bowling
• have dessert and go to a bookstore 
• go see the penguins (at the Tennessee Aquarium) 
• dinner and a movie 
• watch a UT sporting event 
• I also put some specific restaurants we like 

What type of jar would you make?  What kind of things would you put in a date night jar?

On a side note if you are married and not going on dates with your spouse, why not?  Let me encourage you to make dating your spouse a priority.   I promise it is an investment worth making!

Much Love!
Mrs. Tara 

A Weekend to Remember

Mike and I recently attended Family Life's conference for Married Couples (and engaged couples).  It is called A Weekend To Remember .  Thanks to our church - First Baptist Cleveland who gives this special time to the minister's at our church every other year.  Mike and I continue to go to this particular conference (although we could pick others), because it is always a great conference.  We have never been disappointed in the speakers, location, etc.  Family Life is a first class ministry who is committed to helping families keep Christ as the top priority in their lives. 
The conferences are located all over the United States.  We've been to a couple locations.  This year we decided to go to Charleston, South Carolina.  We just love this city.  On Friday we explored the city and here are some things we got to see:

Two Meeting Street Inn

This is where I really wanted to stay but they didn't have availability for the entire time we were in town! One day I am going to stay at this Bed and Breakfast!

Friday night before we went to the conference, we saw a couple get married in the gazebo at Battery Park.  This was their carriage!

We took a carriage ride but it was with quite a few couples!

I would most likely visit Battery Park a lot if I lived in Charleston!

Love it!

We saw families playing, photo sessions of a bride, children and about 16 members of a family- it was cute - they were all dressed alike.  The grandfather was just ready to get it over with. 

I love the homes in Charleston.

Homes we got to see on our carraige ride.  I highly recommend the Palmetto Carriage Company if you are in Charleston. 

I loved the Christmas decorations. 

The thing I look at the most is the gates, fences, lamps, etc.   I think this looks very enchanting!

Loved this gate........

but most of all loved what was inside the gate.  I could see myself sitting here to read.

Picture on South Battery.  While waiting on the Boat Parade we got to see lit up and with it's Christmas tree on.  It is a beautiful home. 

Yet another view of Battery Park!

Water view of Battery Park!

Favorite boat from the parade!

We also loved those on canoes and kayaks who came by first.  They came by yelling two things-

"Merry Christmas" and then would say "When we say row, you say Ho!"

So it was fun to hear Row, Ho, Row, Ho with all the others who had gathered to see the Boat Parade!

We also visited James Island County Park Festival of Lights at Folly Beach. It was AMAZING - so amazing that it will be a blog post all of it's own. 

So thankful for my hubby! I love him more and more each day.  I never knew 18 years ago (this month) when he asked me to marry him that it was possible to love him more than I did that day, but I do.  So thankful to God for the gift of this godly man.  I love you HB!

Meal Plan / kinda

Well I did not so hot last week on my meal plan, so I had better work on it this week- although not a good week to work on it- ever had weeks like that? Let me explain!

Monday night (tonight) I worked late and so did my husband and since I didn't do my meal plan until NOW.... we ate out. We are leaving for a marriage retreat on Thursday afternoon so we will be eating out now until next Thursday. So here is what I have........

Monday- eat out
Tuesday - pork loin (I didn't do it last week)- anyone have a recipe for it in the crock pot?
Wednesday - eat at CHURCH
Thursday- Tuesday out of town

We are so blessed that the church where I serve as the Minister of Childhood Education allowed each of the minister's and their spouse to attend a marriage retreat. They provided a very generous budget for each us and the time away did not count against our vacation time. They wanted to say to us they recognize how important marriage is and they realize being in ministry often we focus on helping everyone else but often not our own family / marriage. So, they are helping us to do this by blessing us in this manner. I am also thankful it is was not even an option but required for us to do this. I think that goes to show how much they care about us and how much they want to say to us our family matters to our church!
So hubby and I are headed to Williamsburg, Virginia to the Family Life Conference. We are excited to go to a place we have never been. You can check out this wonderful ministry at www.familylife.com ! We are staying a day extra to take in some sights- any suggestions?
Hubby and I need some time away. To be honest since we returned from Nicaragua in October we have had lots of sad days. As many of you followed with us the past two years on our adoption quest you know how hard this adoption failing was for us. I am not sure we have processed it all - we are still pretty numb.
To be very honest since my unexpected hysterectomy late this summer and the failed adoption I can't seem to quit crying. There have not been too many days I haven't cried. Last week was particularly hard for me for some reason. I am ready to put all this behind me, so maybe our weekend away will be a new beginning. Please pray that it will be! I also believe by then I will be back in full swing for Meal Planning! Well, it is a good thought anyway, tee hee, I may have another reason to eat out more by then!