And that promise was this:
That we will make a valiant effort to get away for our anniversary each year and celebrate another year of marriage with just the two of us. We made this promise knowing that it might get complicated some years... that kids, health concerns or financial restraints might limit us... so we added the clause that it didn't have to be a big, fancy trip. It might just mean borrowing a friend's cabin or beach house for a weekend or sneaking out of the house and staying at a hotel in town for a night... anything that carved out time for us away from home. Because marriage is hard work. At least a good marriage is. So every year Micah and I have made a commitment to do three things to celebrate another year of God's goodness in our lives and to prepare our hearts for the year ahead.
Rule #1: Get away. Anywhere. As long as it's away from home and the stress of cleaning, cooking and keeping the AC up during the day to lower our electric bill...
Rule #2: Reflect on the past year. Talk about the challenges and reminisce on the best moments, thanking God for His grace.
Rule #3: Set goals for the upcoming year. One of ours for this year is to find older Godly mentors in Phoenix.
After you follow the three rules, it's all celebration and relaxation from there on out. So this weekend we checked into one of the Scottsdale resorts, taking advantage of their affordable summer rates. We talked about the serious stuff on Friday night and Saturday morning and then it was just fun, fun, fun the rest of the weekend. The highlights include:
-- riding our beach cruisers to a very late brunch on Saturday morning
--laying out by the pool for a couple hours despite the weather rebelling on us with a late afternoon storm {I will say though that it was much easier to read my magazines under cloudy skies as opposed to the usual 110-get-in-the-pool-every-90-seconds-before-you-die-of-heat-stroke weather that we usually have here.}
--going out to dinner at a Brazilian steakhouse and eating so much meat I thought I might explode {sorry to my vegan readers!}, although we still somehow managed to annihilate the complimentary dessert they brought to us...
--watching HGTV to my heart's content
--sleeping nine hours both nights thanks to those precious blackout curtains
--having someone made else make my bed and clean my room {hallelujah!}
1) The ring Micah got me from Amy Cornwell 2) Our day 3) I made Zebra brownies for our anniversary dessert, but they became Micah's after-work snack instead. 4) Every year we open up a card from the corresponding table number at our wedding. Table #2 was where most of my bridesmaids sat and this card was hilarious!!!
1/2) Checking in! 3) They gave us warm chocolate chip cookies on arrival. 4) There is nothing I love more than a king size bed in a hotel room. 5/6) We dropped off our luggage and headed out for dessert thanks to a gift card from a dear friend. Yes, we had three desserts. What of it???
1) The beautiful wooden ceiling in our room 2) Hanging out on Saturday morning 3) Breakfast 4) Lounging with my Real Simple 5/6) Enjoying the pool until those storm clouds chased us away
1) Ready for steak! 2) Yes, we tried EVERY cut of meat they served. We don't mess around. 3/4) Free dessert... it was this strawberry cream stuff that we took a chance on and it was absolutely amazing!!!
*Linking up with The Anderson Crew, Hello Hue, and Life Rearranged*
happy anniversary! what a lovely post..!
ReplyDeleteand i LOVE that ring.. i definitely went and checked out her shop!!
come by and enter a
Custom Beanie Giveaway on my blog!
Happy Anniversary from a new follower! My hubby and I do the same thing...try to take some time around each anniversary to go somewhere special, just the two of us, and enjoy quiet time together getting back to the heart of it all. Sometimes the military gets in the way of spending anniversaries together in general (such is life)...but that time is easily made up later. Looks like you two had a very memorable anni! LOVE the ring! Super cute! :)
ReplyDeleteFun! BTW that's a great idea with the cards from your wedding tables! Gonna pass that tip along. :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! I just came across your blog from bits of splendor and I love it! I am now a follower:) Stop by sometime and say hello!
ReplyDelete-Adriane @ fruitfulhomejournal.blogspot.com
What a perfect little getaway, and a wonderful promise you made to each other. (Also, I've been in love with those rings for a long time. So beautiful!)
ReplyDeleteI do a weekly instagram/snapshot link-up on my blog. If you have 20 seconds I'd love for you to join!
Brooke
http://liningthecloudswithsilver.blogspot.com/2012/07/instalife-link-up_16.html
Such a sweet couple :) This year on our first anniversary we enjoyed looking back on the year gone by, and set goals for the upcoming year too! Great way to really reflect on your marriage!
ReplyDeletePS- We LOVE DoubleTree, we always feel spoiled when we stay there :)
Happy anniversary. That ring is so cute! ...and oh my gosh, 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep must be heaven!
ReplyDeleteI love the card idea using your table numbers! How fun! And your ring is so sweet!
ReplyDeleteThat ring is adorable!
ReplyDeleteI think it is wonderful that you guys made that commitment to each other to go away every year...and remember, don't let it slip when you have kids! I am already wanting to plan something for our 2 year in February. :) and I LOVE THE RING!!!!! he did so good!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you guys had a perfect celebration! :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like it was a super relaxing weekend. Yay for those!!! You guys are such an adorable couple! And so sweet. Happy Anniversary to you both and I pray that God continues to bless you beyond measure in the years to come!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! I really like the promise and rules you created. My parents made a habit of getting away each anniversary and have done so for as long as I can remember (and were married 34 years this year!)
ReplyDeleteFound you via Bits of Splendor and am happily following. :)
I love your ring!!
ReplyDeleteStopping by from the link up and happy to be your newest follower :)
xo, Jersey Girl
hairsprayandhighheels.blogspot.com
I totally agree with you- it is so, so lovely to go away and celebrate, reflect and look forward. I look forward to my wedding anniversary every year :-)
ReplyDeleteI love your idea of the cards from each wedding table- just wish I had thought of the idea when we were planning the wedding :-)
happy anniversary....looks like you had a wonderful time....and my real simple is stil sitting on my counter waiting to be read.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great anniversary trip! I LOVE Brazilian steakhouses. So good. And that Amy Cornwell ring is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI really like your three rules! Perhaps we'll be adopting those as well! :) Looks like a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! I just started following you. I cannot wait to see more. I loved all your sweet photos. I do not think I could just choose one that was my favorite. I am glad you both had such a great time :)
ReplyDeletehappy anniversary!
ReplyDeleteyou two are so cute. And i totally would have cut into those brownies early too.
also, LOVE the anniversary card idea!!
Happy Anniversary! Looks like fun! Great post about getting away. It does get complicated.
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! Looks like a great time! :)
ReplyDeletehappy anniversary! you guys are adorable:)
ReplyDeletenicely done.
ReplyDeleteseriously.
may you grow in oneness with each other as you continue on in the faith and grow in our Lord.
over from the little things link up :)
Happy anniversary and thanks for the shout out! I'm glad you love your True Love ring!!
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary it looks like you had a lovely time.
ReplyDelete