FUN WANTED FOR STRESSED COUPLE: Dating Ideas for Marriage

It's date night once again...

I love date night because it gives my Husband and me a chance to have fun, joke, laugh, and be friends. At first date nights seemed a bit overkill or too forced, but as the stress of life's long journey together set in at times, we've begun to look forward to our night during the week where we dust ourselves off, and enjoy the pleasures of life- together. A lasting marriage means a solid friendship, so we try to keep an open mind about what the other person likes, and experiment to find a common interest we can share.

Below are just a few fun and budget-friendly things Nick and I like to do together throughout the week to get to know each other, take a break, and have some fun. We are always up to trying new things, so please, comment and share your ideas and what activities you and your mate enjoy!

Movies, Movies More Movies

 We search for discount theater tickets through my employer to hit the movies and dinner, usually all for under $50. When money is tight, we get our favorite snacks from the store or take out and load up at the RedBox! We can never get enough action, laughs, and suspense dramas!

Foodie Adventures

We love to eat! I always loved to try new cuisine and explore ambiance, so I have turned my husband on to exploring all of the excellent dining in Los Angeles. He loves a good hole-in-the wall minus the crowds, and I love fine food and ambiance. It's a fun challenge to find a new fave spot for us both! A good wife is always savings conscious, so check around online. Yelp.com is a great resource for reviews, and you can limit search results to your budget. Sites like Groupon.com also offer discounts, and I clip restaurant coupons, as well as sign up on favorite restaurants websites for occasional email discounts and freebies!

Let's Go For a Drive!

 We discovered early in our marriage that we both loved to hop in the car and go for long rides. As my parents used to say...let's go get lost! It's a simple and very inexpensive way to relax and get out of the house. If you have kids, this can be fun too if you make it an adventure and don't keep them trapped for too long. Just pick a direction to go, grab a drink from 7-Eleven, and cruise! Roll the windows down, cut off the radio, sight-see, people watch, day-dream, laugh with each other and catch up. No fighting! This is relaxing time! Look at dream houses, cruise the coastline or hillsides, or people-watch downtown. If you have a day or two off, consider a day trip- overnight road trip, or even a drive to a state or national park for a picnic or impromtu cookout!

Surfing
No, not the wave ripping kind at the beach, although that would be fun to try!! We surf the Internet together! Pull up a chair with your spouse next time they're surfing, and take some time to really see what interests them. We learn so much about each other, laugh, listen to new music, and debate current news. It's also a great time to look for new ideas of things to enjoy together, and dream for the future. I've gotten great gift ideas for my husband by simply watching him surf and learning about his likes/hobbies. Just make sure to take turns!

Why Friendship Matters:

Well, these are just a few ideas! We're new to this, and so we'd love for you to share yours! Marriage is work, but this is the fun part of it!! Great friends hit it off because they find a common interest or kindred spirit and become inseparable. If you are having trouble finding common interests, pray and ask God to open your mind and heart to your spouse's passions and help you find a common ground.

Couples have a lot of getting to know each other to do, even if they've dated or courted for a long period of time. My parents also said after 29 years, they are still getting to know each other, and their hobbies have changed. We've been married now for 8 months, and it's becoming more clear that sometimes the answer to major friction in marriage can be as simple as turning away from the things that separate us, and turning toward the things that bring us together on common ground.

Newlyweds need to get into a routine schedule of taking time out to date, hang out, laugh, and be friends. Over time, it strengthens the bond and gives us both something exciting to look forward to. This life isn't about bills and babies....it's about the two of us as one, enjoying the pleasures of life God gave us to rest from life's journey.