You think everything is fine. You're handling life well. You feel somewhat connected with your spouse. And then the stars align and you have a date night etched on the calendar together. The anticipation rises as the date draws near. And you finally escape the routine to spend some good quality time together—as husband and wife. And upon having that time to reconnect together, you realize HOW BADLY you actually needed it. How much you have been missing it. How much this time together is truly necessary for the health of your marriage.

There have been so many times that we think everything is rainbows and butterflies and then once we get some one-on-one time together, we've realized how much we missed out on in the capacity of truly connecting with each other. It was needed but we had shoved it to the back burner far too many times. 

Personally, I can turn anything into a date. A trip to the grocery store. A walk around the neighborhood. Even getting gas or going thrift shopping. It's all in my mindset. And I've always been one to say, "Let's put the kids to bed and have a home date." Which I think is so wonderful. And also, there is something about stepping outside of your normal with no distractions and doing something out of the ordinary together. 

Trying new things, going on an adventure, sitting across from one another in a coffee shop and locking eyes. Bringing it back to the basics and truly making space and time to connect. Besides it being very beneficial for our marriages and growth together, it's also just fun.

Oftentimes, I can get so caught up in trying to keep up with the demands of life that I just forget to loosen up and have fun. So, today, cheers to having fun, letting loose and making time to connect with your spouse and having a date! It doesn't have to be weekly (although, that would be awesome) but just something that is placed as a priority in your life. You'll be back with the kids soon enough. Etch out a little time for unity and bond of our marriages and family and make it stronger. Date night is a great way to do that.