Marriage Encounter

(we brought a bunch of leftover balloons for the boys when we picked them up; they weren't as stoked as we though they'd be)

Firstly, thank you to all of you that sent us words of encouragement. We had a great weekend and thoroughly enjoyed reading so many kind thoughts and helpful advice (we especially did our best to follow you advice, Uncle Lowell). There were so many surprises and touches to the weekend that made us feel so loved, cherished, prayed for, and cared about. To any of you that have a marriage that may not be what you thought it'd be, a marriage that you think has run it's course, or just a marriage that could use some help, I encourage you to open your hearts and minds to an experience like Marriage Encounter.

We witnessed the complete transformation of 3 different couples that had marriages that were so dysfunctional, unhealthy, abusive, deceitful, and damaging that it was like something out of a movie. I can't begin to imagine the long and painful road they traveled to the marriage they share now, but they clearly showed it can be done. It was encouraging on so many levels (they were SO brave to share such details) and I can only hope we can remember what we learned and make them daily (hourly!) practices.

The choice and decisions we make can surely make us or break us, and now that we're back home we're finding it's really hard not to make the same choices and decisions we used to make. It seriously only took us 24 hours to find ourselves in the uncomfortable, tense, get-me-out-of-here, situations we've been CHOOSING for our entire marriage.

But, I think we both recognize that we choose the way we act and react and need to own those choices. Every day will be a decision to do better by our spouse, and every day it will come more easily (not easy, it may never seem easy, but easier is the hope).

One foot in front of the other.