I love doing things with Kevin. Like LOVE it. I guess you can say I’m a big time quality time person in terms of my love language. We could be cleaning the house and I’m over here having a blast, because we are doing it together with music playing and laughing. I may prefer a romantic weekend alone together, but you get the picture – he is my best friend and I love just hanging out! After putting some thought into this catagory, I settled on 12 Things You Should Do With Your Spouse Every Year.
Travel
Oh, how I love traveling with Kevin. I want to make this a major priority to travel together at least once a year! I know many people talk about waiting until they are older or until their kids are grown, but I want to enjoy each other right now. I know this isn’t always the easiest or even realistic financially for everyone. You can even think short weekend getaway. Travel doesn’t have to mean a 7 day european vacation (although that would be amazing), it could mean a one night staycation with dinner at favorite spot. The point is to take time away from your “normal” to just be together.
Budget
Make a monthly budget and stick to it! I know budgeting can be a “dirty word” in marriage but don’t let it be! I have written a few posts about How To Survive Money & Marriage and budgeting is at the core. A budget does not say limitations. A budget says we have goals, we are on the same team and we are working toward them together.
Set Goals
Speaking of goals – actually set goals! I always suggest doing this as part of budgeting because often times our goals come with price tag and part of the fun is working at these goals together. Maybe you want to travel more? Set monthly date nights? Buy a new house? Pay off debt? Set Goals together and plan out action steps to get there.
Study the bible together
Strengthening your relationship with God will strengthen your relationship with each other. The more you study together, the deeper conversations you will have the closer you will become. Studying together is such a great way to connect.
Spend time with Older Couples
You can learn so much from older couples. Everyone is so incredibly different, but there is wisdom with age most of the time. Spending time with older couples gives you insight into future seasons of marriage that you may not have thought about yet.
Serve One Another
I actually think this should be done daily, because it is so important to love one another well. I have written several posts about how to serve your spouse including 20 Ways To Serve Your Husband. It is little everyday actions that say I love you, i’m thinking about you, you matter.
Spend time with Friends
Surround yourself with people who lift you up and friends that you can relate with. We have several couple friends that we like to hang out with and its just good for our soul. We can relate, we can laugh, and we just plain have fun.
Couples Photoshoot
You might be rolling your eyes on this one, but having a professional photographer capture your relationship is so special. You can look back year to year and remember your growth as a couple and the season you were in that year. And I mean, no kids allowed – no pets. Just the two of you, although, I absolutely love doing this with our family pictures as well. While I highly recommend a professional, if it just isn’t in your budget, grab a friend who enjoys a camera and buy them dinner in exchange for following the two of you around town.
Plan Monthly Date Nights
Get out of the house and focus on each other – just the two of you. You need time alone out of the house to have fun and to laugh. You need dinner alone, a movie and just some you time. This is key!
Recreate a Memory
It is time to reminisce. Go back to where you first met, recreate your first date, your first kiss or your first dance. Pick a memory and talk about it, smile and just reminisce together. Its fun to remember old butterflies or even funny moments.
Work on one marriage goal (or more)
I know I already talked about setting goals, but be sure to set at least one marriage goal and work on it. Do you need to improve your communication? Set aside the whole year to work on you communication. Play games around communication, talk about your communication, come up with things that work for you. Reach your goal to better your marriage.
Something for someone else
Last but certainly not least. Do something for someone else together? Serving others is such an amazing opportunity and way to connect. Maybe you want to go through your house and donate toys or clothes? Maybe you can help a neighbor with their yard? You could babysit for a single mom. There are so many ways you could serve others together. Make it happen.
While I’m sure there are so many things you should do with your spouse every year, this is just my simple list of things we are working on and that I encourage others to work on as well. I know each of these aspects has done wonders in our marriage and I pray that they will for your as well.
