"A nation will raise no higher than the strength of it's families" President Hinckley

About a week and a half ago...Mark and I had an Ah...Ha moment. We have been living two seperate lives. It was a scary and humbling realization. We have not been having any problems, fights, etc. but we just realized that we really have lost touch with each other. Again...SCARY! We both knew that with Mark's business and Tyce coming into our family (all within a couple months of each other) that we would have to pay attention and actually make an effort to stay connected within our marriage. A new business and baby is a lot all at once. Eventually, we just went day to day with the occasional outing, camping trip, etc. But for the most part...Mark went to work and ran the business and I began raising our son. So, on my way to work last Wednesday, I decided that it was high time Mark and I got away!! In 7 1/2 years of marriage (not including our wedding night and stops in Boise on the way to WA) we have never gone away to a bed and breakfast or some fun vacation together. And even moreso...we have NEVER left Tyce overnight to go somewhere just the two of us. Tyce is now 20 months old...this getaway is LONG overdue!!

So, I called Mark while I was at work and said..."Can I have your undivided attention from Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon?" He says..."Sure...will this be the three of us?" I say "Nope...just you and me. I promise to make it worth your while"!! So, he is now totally on board!! LOL!! So, Friday afternoon, Mark and I dropped Tyce off with Grama and Papa for a sleepover!!! I took Mark up Ogden Canyon to the Oaks. This is an enchanting resturaunt with outdoor wood picnic tables and benches under canopys of fabric and trees...right on the Ogden River. Humming birds were flying around getting their treats out of the hummingbird feeders and the food was yummy!!

After dinner...we went down the canyon just a tad and checked into the Alaskan Inn...a cute and cozy bed and breakfast with wonderfully huge breakfast options!! The room was themed as a mine with real wood beams and a large two person jetted tub...complete with sparkling cider and cookies. We had a wonderful evening "reconnecting"! LOL!! I will spare the details!

The next morning, we checked out and spent the day "dating"! We went to the new Solomon Center in Ogden and spent the afternoon wasting money at the Arcade and playing miniature golf...Galactic!! My toe nails even had blacklight polish on! LOL!! That was fun! We played skeeball and deal or no deal and when all was said and done...we had lots of new little treasures from the prize counter to take home to Tyce!!

We then went out to lunch because Tyce had already gone down for his nap. So, Mark and I took advantage of just a little more time to "date". We went to Bajio (Yum)!! When we finally got to Mark's parents to pick up Tyce...we were exhausted. Tyce was still sleeping so we curled up on the couch and took a nap too! When Tyce woke up we were back to the real world...a place that we love more than life itself! We missed our little boy horribly but have decided that he needs a "connected" mommy and daddy more than anything in his life and so...Tyce will be having sleepovers with Grama and Papa a few times a year so mommy and daddy can "date" and strengthen their marriage!! That is the foundation of a strong family! I love the quote from President Hinckley that is in my home..."A nation will raise no higher than the strength of it's families" and I truly take that to heart!

So, this weekend...I spent an amazing weekend with the love of my life. Words cannot describe how much I love my husband...but I can say with certainty that I love him much, much, much, much more today than the day I married him. That is a very good thing!! I cherish my family and I pray for more to be added to it in the coming months/years!

Hug your families and remember the importance of a STRONG marriage! Take time for yourselves...your kids will survive the temporary neglect and won't even notice if they are being neglected to gramma and papa's house!