Intentional Marriage - Make Out Monday

A few years back I was talking with some friends about the importance of the almighty “date night” but how hard it is to drop $50 on a sitter and then the dinner bill? One woman giggled and said that she and her friends do “Make Out Mondays” – where they swap babysitting for each other. The rules are: your kids have to be fed, bathed and put to bed, then your friend simply shows up to sit on your couch, watch TV, or nap while you go out with your man! Quite a deal! We started doing this with our neighbors and it was great. I loved my night of watching their children because I could sit in peace, uninterrupted and just be. 9 out of 10 times I completely fell asleep on their comfy couch! Removing the financial hindrance of a babysitter made going out much easier.

Last Summer, a blog I follow, issued a challenge to make a special date for your husband at home after the children go to bed. One idea was to do a “Pretty Picnic.” I did it and it was one of the best dates my husband and I have had… in our backyard! There are so many things that get in the way of spending alone time with our spouse and honestly, it seems like a grand effort to go out when all I want to do in the evenings is sit on the couch and go to bed early! But that alone time with our spouse, when we can have an uninterrupted conversation, is so important to the health and strength of our marriage.

So… I’m throwing out the challenge to all of you for the rest of the year. Once a month, take part in Make Out Monday. (It doesn't have to be on Monday, and making out is optional!) The first Monday of each month, I’ll post a theme for your date.  I'll share some ideas and then have fun getting creative as you make a special evening for you and your husband. If you want to save money on a sitter, see if you have a friend who will swap with you. If you want to skip the sitter altogether, create your own stay at home date after the children go to bed. Skip their naps and put them down early!

It is so important that we get intentional about creating time alone with our spouse. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. It doesn’t have to be for 5 hours. It just needs to happen consistently.

CHALLENGE:
February is half over, but there is still time! So the theme for your February Make Out Monday date is LOVE – simple as that! Have fun getting creative as you express love to your spouse this month. (love songs, love poems, most loved food, most loved dessert…)  Pick a day before the month is over and create a special date for that handsome LOVE of yours!