I love it when November has an extra week after Thanksgiving. It makes it easier to transition from one big holiday to the next. If you’re like us, it’s easy for our marriage to take a back seat to all the planning, shopping and parties of the season. Before you know it you’re packing the decorations away and never had one special moment together.

With this extra week, why not purpose to do something each day for your marriage? Kind of like an advent calendar. Sound romantic? It can be. Or make it practical. Whatever your marriage needs most to stay intentional, purpose to do it.

Here is a peek at what we’re planning to do in no particular order…

1 – Fix your favorite breakfast and sit down together and enjoy it.

2 – Watch a Christmas movie with your beverage of choice.

3 – Go to the mall and each pick out a new ornament for your tree. Let it remind you of something you both enjoyed the past year.

4 – Declutter your bedroom and add some lights for ambiance. Decorate a small tree on which to hang each day’s advent idea.

5 – Go out for ice cream. Something about ice cream when its cold outside makes it taste better.

6 – Take a drive to see the Christmas Lights.

7 – Each assemble and decorate gingerbread house. Make it a competition and let your kids vote on the winner the next day. Don’t have kids? Let your friends on FB be the judge.

8 – Watch a Christmas Concert on You Tube or Netflix.

9 – Find live Christmas Carolers and pause to enjoy their gift of music.

10 – Enjoy a fire outside under the stars if weather permits.

11 & 12 – Plan a surprise date for each other.

13 – Watch another Christmas movie together.

14 – Spend an evening looking back over the year. Talk about some of your favorite memories. Talk about how you have changed.

15 – Host a dinner or ugly sweater party with a few of your closest couple friends.

16 – Give each other a massage followed by a hot bath/shower.

17 – Buy a special Christmas-scented candle that you light every night in your bedroom.

18 – Read a Christmas Classic out loud together.

19 – Put together a Thomas Kincaid puzzle while enjoying conversation.

20 – Watch another Christmas movie together.

21 – Meet at a nice hotel decorated for Christmas after work. Order an appetizer and drink before heading home for dinner. Or have dinner instead if the budget allows.

22. – Pick a name together off a tree for children in need this Christmas. Go shopping together for the child you chose.

23 – Take in a live show in your town. Many are offered for FREE.

24 – Go ice skating or watch others do it.

25 – Make it a point to hold hands and kiss often. Touching builds intimacy.

The important thing to remember is to be intentional together this December. We must not waste these moments for one day they will be the memories we cherish.

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Our book Cherishing Us makes a great gift for your married friends and family members. A perfect way to begin the new year helping those you love be intentional in their relationship as well.