Staying Connected While Staying In

With everything going on in the world right now, I know we are finding ourselves feeling disconnected from much of our daily lives. I have felt disconnected by not being able to travel, not being able to take the kids to the zoo, and not being able to go to the store as a family.

The same thing is true with not being able to go out on a date with Brian. I miss that part of our relationship.

Maybe you feel the same way right now in April 2020. You may be feeling disconnected because A. your “norm” is nowhere to be found, or B. you are finally getting more time together with your family (haha). We are all spending more time at home, which leaves more time for house projects, perfecting a recipe, binge watching television, and spending quality time with your significant other. Right now, quality time looks different than a date night out to dinner, hiring a sitter so that you can grab a drink together, or going on an anniversary vacation away from the kids. Today, quality time is only experienced at home.

I like to believe that covid has helped us to “slow down” in some way. To appreciate what we have and to find ways to connect with those we love in ways we would not have before. This last month has made my heart so happy with Brian working from home. I am enjoying feeling more connected by simply being near one another! While I miss our date nights and getting out of the house for a drink, I also enjoy getting cozy on the couch and connecting with a night of binge watching a tv series or reading our devotional.

If you are finding yourself in need of ideas of how to “date” while at home or just feel connected to your spouse, below is a list of our recommended ideas and “things to do” as a couple to stay connected during this home quarantine!

a couples devotional – Brian purchased this for us a while back, and while we are still working on it, it’s been a great nightly conversation starter for us. We read and chat over this in bed after we put the boys to bed!

little love letters – One of my favorite surprises from Brian is when I come home from work and find a little note he wrote! Even if it is one simple sentence, it means the world to me because it tells me he was thinking of me AND he hates hand writing anything! A little note to a loved one can mean more than one probably realizes.

binge a new tv show – Connect while watching TV?! YES. Some of my favorite hours spent with Brian have always been when we binge a tv series together. Our first one was How I Met Your Mother (still a favorite of ours) and the most recent being, The Witcher. After each episode we usually spend time in conversation about what happened, our thoughts on characters, and what we predict!

conversation starter card game – This is currently in my Amazon cart! I love the idea of keeping these in my purse for date nights while waiting to be seated, while on a long car drive, and/or simply while sipping wine after the kids have been put to bed! I see even those who do not enjoy games picking this up because it’s simply flashcards with questions to ask your spouse!

a question a day book – My sister gifted Brian and I a three year “question a day” memory book that we used religiously for over two years. Now that I have admitted we have slacked, it makes me want to get us back into it! I have found a lot on Amazon!

have sex – Yep. Nothing will make you feel more connected. Have a glass of wine, take a shower, and get busy. **I actually am watching a TV show while writing this and the male lead started kissing his wife and she laughed while pushing him away saying, “It’s not Wednesday or Saturday.” “You know we are allowed to have sex on other days” he stated. Her response? “But it’s so much more fun when we plan it.” Poor guy.

memory book – I just purchased this memory book for Brian and I. I chose it because I am a very sentimental person and love the idea of having all of our important memories written down so that if something happened to us OR I get Alzheimers, our memories will be recorded for our family! Working on this with Brian will be so fun!

go on a walk – Since having miller, I’ve loved going on family walks. It takes us all outside of our distractions from phones and toys to moments of fresh air and fresh conversation! Get outside together and leave the phones at home!

If one of these interests you and you decided to give it a try, let me know in the comments! Hoping you are all staying home and safe during this unusual time! I am thinking of you!

love always, kylie

 

 

the power of communication

I once took a course in college that focused on relationships and during class one day we were discussing the topic of overall “relationship effectiveness” (aka – what held a relationship together). Each corner of the room was labeled with a noun and we were asked to stand in the corner that we felt was most important for a relationship to have.

Trust. Honesty. Communication. Respect.

There were only eight of us in the class and I was the sole individual who stood in the third corner: Communication. While no answer was greater than the other, I can still picture my instructor grinning at my choice. Through discussion, we quickly all came to the conclusion that trust, honesty, and respect cannot exist without communication.

falling in love is . . .

according to the dictionary, when used as a noun, “love” means “an intense feeling of deep connection.” as humans, we are called to love. we are to love our spouses, neighbors, our coworkers, our family, our friends, our classmates, our enemies, and ourselves. we are to love all.

All Along – Part One

Like the beginning of any love story, people ask, “how did you two meet?” and again, like any love story, there is always a beginning.

The “Good Life” Is Who YOU Are

I have found myself spending most of my mornings around 10am with an hour long walk so that Miller will take his morning nap I can get my little one outdoors while exercising and listening to a sermon podcast all at the same time. Please tell me I am not the only one trying to get as much done as I can at once? Three days ago as I was walking down 9th street listening to a sermon podcast I literally stopped mid step in realization of what I had just heard.

To the best Husband and Father

Brian,

My words will never enough describe my love for you. My actions will never enough display my love for you. And my heart will never stop loving you.

You are the man I always dreamed of being with. You are the best friend I always needed. You are the protector that makes me feel constantly secure. You are the provider that I never have to worry about. You are the husband that was perfectly and specifically designed for me. You are the absolute greatest gift God could ever give me.

The Priority In Protecting Your Marriage

Marriage does not come without the constant distractions of life. Distractions such as social media, entertainment, hobbies, and some of the more easily ignored distractions – jobs, money, children, bills, personal struggles/desires (sex, lust, pride, anxiety,etc.), and oneself. When reading the prior sentence, did any of those strike your heart a little more than others? Do you make it a priority in your marriage to protect your marriage from the distractions you personally face?

First comes love, then comes marriage

You meet your match, you go on many dates, you say “I love you,” you find yourself engaged, and next thing you know you’re married! Sound about right? Yay for marriage!

Marriage is amazing. Honestly, marriage is my favorite aspect of my life; I love loving Brian. But while marriage is amazing, it is so easy to not put it first in your life (after our Lord of course!). Why does this happen? I’d like to think when two individuals get married, they, in their heart and minds, plan on putting their marriage first and living “happily ever after.” While this is how marriage is suppose to be thought of, it isn’t realistic without constant commitment to making your marriage the biggest priority in your life.

When three simple words combined can mean so much more . . .

I do not remember the first time I said “I love you” to my parents, nor my sisters, nor the first boy I fell for. I do not remember the first time a friend, family member, nor past boyfriend told me “I love you.” What I do remember is the very first time Brian said those three simple words . . . “I love you.”

Love Sweet Love

February 14th is a day known to most as a day to celebrate love. Love for a spouse, a child, a parent, a friend, co-workers, and to the young ones, their sweet valentine crushes. I love valentines day because I love “love.” My sister recently sent me a picture of poems we wrote as a kids that housed our biggest dreams for life. One line in my childhood poem read, “who dreams what love is like.”