Romantic St. Augustine, FL

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Debi Walter

Guest blogger Allie Olsen of Simply St.Augustine hopes you’ll have one of your most romantic getaways ever in the historic city of St. Augustine, Florida! Before you go, like Simply St. Augustine on facebook and follow on twitter @SimplyStAug

As the sun rose over the glassy Atlantic Ocean, I dug ten polished toes into the cool sand and leaned my head on my hubby’s shoulder. We were celebrating 14 years of marriage with a vacation; waking up to the calm ripple of waves on the seashore felt as familiar as relaxing in my man’s arms.

I’m a Florida girl. I’ve never lived more than 2 hours from the ocean- and since marriage it’s always been within 30 minutes. Chris loves being on the water- so when we chose our anniversary spot, it didn’t take much deliberation. Even though we could go anywhere we dreamed while sweet friends were staying with our six children, we vacationed in our hometown… paradise… St. Augustine, Florida.

We’re lucky to live here. The nation’s oldest city offers everything needed for a romantic getaway: uneven brick streets lined with quaint shops and creative cafes, great beaches and beautiful parks. So I started thinking… what if I only had 24 hours in St. Augustine? How would I spend it?! It was easier than I expected to narrow it down! I hope my “local favorites” inspire you to spend some time in the most romantic, oldest city in the USA!

24 Hours in St. Augustine

Since most of the 19,000,000+ people who live in Florida don’t live in St. Augustine (we only have 13,000 residents), I’ll assume you’re driving here. Take off work a little early, put on your favorite playlist and hit the road. St. Augustine has many Bed & Breakfasts in the historic district (you can check TripAdvisor to pick a good one, I love Bayfront Marin, Bayfront Westcott and Carriage House). If you’re wanting a posh hotel in the center of it all, I vote for the Casa Monica Hotel. It’s the only 4-star hotel in town- valet your car and travel back in time to a slower pace where you stroll, hop on a pedicab or enjoy a carriage ride to get around town.

If you arrive late, no sweat. Cobalt Lounge (in the lobbby) has great live music on the weekends- you can order off the bar menu or the dinner menu. Slip into your bathing suits for an evening swim or put on your walking shoes and hit the town. Two other spots with great late-night ambiance and fantastic food are Michael’s Tasting Room and Tini Martini Bar. You can’t go wrong- each offers live music and delish food.

At the end of the night, settle into your comfy bed and your honey’s arms for a great night’s sleep- you still have a full day to enjoy St. Augustine!

Wake up when you want to Saturday morning… most places serve breakfast late. Stroll across the Plaza de la Constitucion to Kookaburra {who serves up locally roasted coffee} or Casa Maya {for authentic Mayan dishes, not your ordinary breakfast!} for breakfast.

Once, my hubby & I grabbed coffee and pastries then caught a trolley for a 70-minute tour of all the history and attractions. Hop on & off as desired- if you’re new to our city, I suggest riding all the way around while eating breakfast 😉 and then choosing your favorite stops to visit.

The one thing every visitor must do is visit the Castillo de San Marcos. This stone fort was started by the Spanish in the 1600’s and has never been defeated. Displays were updated last month; enjoy learning about hundreds of years of the history of US. Imagine how many sweethearts have strolled across the green toward the Matanzas River and gazed out through the inlet at the ocean… If the weather is nice, relax by the water and look for dolphins and manatees.

Oh, one other thing every visitor must do is stop in Claude’s Chocolates, above. Claude hand-makes each incredible truffle and I’ve never been disappointed! Chris likes milk chocolate and the Sea Salted Caramel, I love dark chocolate like the Spicy Mayan and Earl Grey.

Lunch should be at Cafe Alcazar, below. Located in the {drained} deep end of the world’s largest indoor pool, it is the best lunch spot in town. Portions are generous- you can likely split an order and still leave completely satisfied!!

After lunch, spend the heat of the day wandering through the Lightner Museum- you’ll catch a glimpse of the easy splendor St. Augustine embodied at the turn of the century (1900, that is). The opulence of the former hotel is still breathtaking as is the collection of antiques- from Tiffany stained glass to an Egyptian Mummy. I suggest asking for the children’s scavenger hunt- you’ll see things you would’ve walked right past without it!

You have time to hop back on the trolley and hit another attraction, relax on a boat tour or play a lighthearted game of mini-putt-putt; ask your consierge or the trolley tour guide for directions. Sometimes, though, my hubs & I don’t want our getaways packed with to-do’s. St. Augustine is a great walking town, you’re bound to discover your own favorite shops, architecture and random treats like The Hyppo and Fudgebuckets.

We only have 24 hours… and the timer is ticking! We’ll play “choose your own adventure” and I’ll leave you with two choices for the end of your time away.

Harry’s Seafood Restaurant offers balcony seating with a view of the river or courtyard seating with live music. You may already be familiar with Harry’s- they have restaurants across the state in Lakeland, Ocala, Gainesville and Tallahassee. Their New Orleans inspired menu, great live music & 2 bars keeps the place hopping, so call ahead to get on the wait list.I love their Redfish entree- and please save room for the chocolate bread pudding!

If you’re not ready for dinner yet but are headed South on your drive home, go ahead and hit the road. My favorite beach dive is an hour South of St. Augustine and I want to introduce you to Snack Jacks. You can take A1A all the way down for a relaxing, oceanside drive. Snack Jacks is a few minutes past the Flagler Beach Pier- one of the few restaurants actually on the dunes. We always sit on the picnic tables outside and order the spicy fish tacos or a fish reuben then splash in the water while we wait for dinner. It’s a special spot for me and the hubs, we love the “Old Florida” ambiance of being barefoot on the beach.

As you drive the rest of the way home, you’ll likely be planning your next trip to St. Augustine. You’ll see glimpses of the lighthouse, our expansive beaches, beautiful Mission of Nombre de Dios, fun attractions, arched doors nestled in stucco walls and so much more to entice you back. That’s part of the romance- enjoy discovering your newest old favorite! It’s not busy Orlando or dolled up Savannah… it’s Simply St. Augustine.

Posted in Celebrations, Christian Marriage, Guest Post, Romantic Vacation Ideas | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Romantic Orlando: Discovery Cove

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Debi Walter

Discovery Cove is Sea World’s all-inclusive park that is limited to only 1,000 guests per day. I took Tom there for his birthday Monday, and we had the best time! A friend told us it felt like you were at a spa all day, and they were right.

From the moment we arrived we felt every need was anticipated; one employee noticed Tom’s glasses and pointed him to Customer Service where he could get a prescription mask for snorkeling the Reef. Wow. What a nice touch.

All the food and drinks were included in the price of the park, so we didn’t have to carry any money with us. They provided a locker, snorkel gear, lazy river noodles, towels and lots of wildlife to admire, feed and touch.

Although we didn’t pay the extra money to swim with the dolphins, we did get to snorkel with manna rays, lots of tropical fish and even swim next to the glass enclosed shark tank. One shark swam right up to window and glared at me through the glass. It was scary to imagine what he would have done if the glass wasn’t there.

It was a perfect day. Although not an inexpensive date, this park is well-worth saving up for for a special occasion. We recommend arriving at 7:30a. Breakfast is served at 8:00a. The park opens at 9:00a and closes at 5:30p.

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Posted in Anniversaries, Birthdays, Celebration Dates, Celebrations, Christian Marriage, Date Night Ideas, Orlando Date Ideas, Outdoor Dates, Romantic Orlando, Summer Sizzlin' Dates | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

I Choose Us

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Debi Walter

It was one of those date nights where you think it’s normal and predictable, but I was soon to learn otherwise. Tom and I had decided to watch a movie at home, something we rarely do on date nights because of the lack of conversation. But this movie sounded like it would be worth it.

The Family Man was the movie starring Nicolas Cage and Tia Leoni.

The story tells of man who had a woulda coulda shoulda moment and the lesson he learned in the process. I won’t spoil the story for you if you haven’t seen it and would like to. But there was one line “Kate” said that affected me deeply.

You see, at the time, Tom and I had lived in our home for nearly a decade. Our three children were in their teens and our house seemed much smaller than it did when we first bought it.

Tom was considering a move.

I was hoping for an addition.

Painting of our home – a gift from Tom’s Dad.

We live in a neighborhood surrounded by long-time friends, many of whom go to the same church we do. We do life together, and our memories are precious. I am the sentimental one in our marriage. I tend to cling tightly to people I love and the memories I hold dear. This is not necessarily a good thing. God is teaching me along with Tom’s help the importance of holding all things loosely and leaving God to decided what He will give and what He will take away. It isn’t easy, but peace always follows when I am willing to surrender to His will for my life.

Oh my, that was a rabbit trail. Sorry. I pray it was for someone who needed to be encouraged by my current challenge. Anyway, back to the movie. I was trying to follow Tom’s lead in the decision, but I was afraid he would choose for us to move. It was an emotionally charged season for me, for us.

I have heard it said that the reason movies or books resonate with us and maybe not others is because of the touchstones in the story. We all have them. Something is said or shown that triggers a special memory from your own life and suddenly you’re drawn into the story as if you were the main character. It’s happened to me countless times, this being one of them.

Kate, the female lead in the story was struggling to follow her husband’s lead in a decision as to where they would live. (See the touchstone? I was riveted!) Below is what she said:

You know, I think about the decision you made. Maybe I was being naive, but I believed that we would grow old together in this house, that we’d spend holidays here and have our grandchildren come visit us here. I had this image of us all gray and wrinkly, and me working in the garden, and you repainting the deck. But things change. If you need this, Jack, if you really need this, I will take these kids from a life they love, and I’ll take myself from the only home we’ve ever shared together and I’ll move wherever you need to go. I’ll do that because I love you. I love you, and that’s more important to me than our address. I choose us.

This link will allow you to see the scene from the movie–it’s a powerful demonstration of what marriage is meant to be, and we encourage you to take a moment to watch it.

I’m crying again just remembering it all. God spoke to me in that moment saying I could follow Tom anywhere because this was more important than my hopes and dreams for the future. I chose us!

And Tom was affected in a similar way. He ended up choosing for us to stay here in our home adding on some much needed space. This is the place where I can work in the garden and he can pressure wash our back deck and where we are welcoming our kids and grandkids into our home as often as they wish to come. ❤

There is one special place in our family room that I insisted be built for the grandchildren we didn’t yet have. It is a padded window seat surrounded by fluffy pillows and all my favorite childhood books. I knew one day, if God so allowed, we would have grandchildren who would love this little spot in our cozy home.

Willow enjoying my window seat with Pooh

Now 9 years later, we have 5 grandchildren, and my dream has come true. They love their little corner built for them years before their parents were even married. Isn’t God good the way He leads us to the plan He has for us? Had we moved, I know God would have given me lots of memories in our new place. But I am grateful for the twenty years we’ve called this house our home. And today, TODAY, my newest granddaughter, Stella Grace will come to our house for the first time in her two months of life. This Nana is very excited to show her my window seat. 🙂

What memories do you have of your home? Have you ever been affected by the touchstones in a movie or book as well? How did it help you or encourage you?

Posted in Christian Marriage, communication, Conflict, Difficulty, Growing Strong Marriages, Movie Dates | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

God Is Always Listening

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Debi Walter

We love hearing testimonies of God’s love and grace in the marriages of friends and acquaintances. God is always at work in our marriage helping us grow more in love with Him and each other, yet we often forget His nearness.

We want to share with you the following testimony of two dear friends as they celebrated a special occasion in their marriage. We pray it will open your eyes to see the ways God is listening and caring for you in the everyday moments of your life.

Meet Dave and Donna Akers

We want to tell you of a really neat thing that happened yesterday!

First of all…it was our 39th wedding anniversary! That alone was neat 🙂 But, yesterday, as Dave and I were sitting in an Ormond Beach restaurant called Alfies, we were thinking back to the day of our wedding. It was about the same time of day that our wedding started. As we were waiting on our server to return we started naming things we remembered about that special day. Then it happened…we hear the restaurant music strike a familiar chord in our pondering ears….”We’ve Only Just Begun,” by the Carpenters was playing!!! That was our wedding song!!!! We haven’t heard it in years and just as it would have been time for our wedding to start 39 years ago….today, sitting in a restaurant we hear once again…our song!! And…today, it brings another special meaning to us!

As Dave said…it’s just another reminder that He is in it!!! And…God shows up again…so tenderly to tell us He loves us!

Congratulations Dave and Donna. Thank you for the example your marriage is to all who know you. We pray God will continue to help you find “the place where there’s room to grow.” 

We dedicate the following song to you:

Posted in Christian Marriage, Growing Strong Marriages, Testimonies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

When Your Feelings And Convictions Don’t Agree

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Tom Walter

We’ve all faced seasons where we don’t feel like doing what we know we should. Our convictions may be clear, but our desire to stick to them may fluctuate on any given day.

Here are some scenarios to help you identify with this common tendency:

  • You said you want to be diligent in your quiet times with the Lord, but you wake up extra tired and end up hitting the snooze button more times than you can remember.
  • You know the importance of planning a date night with your wife, but by the end of the day all you want is to put your feet up and watch TV.
  • Raising your children to be responsible and respectful is at the top of your list of priorities, but today the attitudes are easier to ignore than to expend the time and energy needed to correct them.
  • You want to share sexual intimacy with your spouse, but after the things he/she said last night, you really don’t feel like it anymore.
  • You know money is tight and you need to stick to your budget, but you’re craving some french fries right now, and after a day like today you deserve a treat.

Can you relate?

We are more prone to do the things we feel like doing than we are to do the things we say are important to us.

Our feelings are fickle.

They cannot be trusted.

And our feelings are what scream the loudest when it is time to do the thing we said we would do.

The good news for us today is the fact that God’s mercies are new every morning. He is aware we need a fresh dose everyday to fight the good fight of faith and choose what Christ told Mary was “the good part.”

Following Christ and His ways are counter-culture to following our feelings and it’s ways. We live in a world where “if it feels good–do it,” is the standard of living. To say no to our feelings is hard, but Christ will help us in our weakness. We only have to admit our need and ask for help.

All the great temptations appear first in the region of the mind and can be fought and conquered there. We have been given the power to close the door of the mind. We can lose this power through disuse or increase it by use, by the daily discipline of the inner man in things which seem small and by reliance upon the word of the Spirit of truth. It is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure. It is as though He said, ‘Learn to live in your will, not in your feelings.’

Amy Carmichael

In what ways are your feelings trying to conquer your convictions? 

Posted in Christian Marriage, Priorities, Temptation, The Gospel & Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Creative Date Ideas

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Debi Walter

Maybe you cringe whenever you hear the word creative because you simply aren’t creative in any sense of the word. Well, I have good news for you–you don’t have to be creative in order to have a creative date because there are enough creative people who are willing to share with you their ideas. They do this simply to help you have fun without the pangs of thinking the things up on your own.

This brings me to the reason for this post.

My husband wonders at times how I sleep at night because of the way my brain thinks. Actually, it never stops. Once I drift out of consciousness, I immediately enter dreamland or nightmareland depending on the night. It isn’t fun. It can be exhausting, but it can also be helpful. I’ve found having an outlet for my ideas really helps me relax, like letting go of something that keeps tugging on my brain.

So, consider this post another dumping of ideas where my husband can be spared of so many thoughts and ideas coming to him full force. And maybe, just maybe I’ll sleep a little better tonight. 🙂

Creative Date Ideas:

  • Pinterest is full of creative people who like to post creative ideas. Why not plan an evening using everything from Pinterest from the dinner menu – to the decorating – to the conversation. And you can follow us on Pinterest as well for a continual flow of ideas that we find helpful.
  • Days of Creation Dates – Since God is the creator of all things, why not plan 6 dates celebrating the order in which He did it all. Here is the list with some ideas following of what you could do:
  1. Light and dark – play flashlight tag in your house after dark. Eat light ice cream with dark chocolate fudge.
  2. Heaven – Go skydiving, parasailing, take a flying lesson, fly a kite, or just eat heavenly hash ice cream.
  3. Dry land, seas, vegetation – Go to the beach and build a sand castle, or visit a nearby lake or aquarium, take a drive in the desert, eat a vegetarian meal, plant a garden.
  4. The sun, moon and stars – Visit a planetarium to star gaze, buy or borrow a telescope to view the night sky from your backyard, take a drive to the continental divide if you happen to be in that area, Go sunbathing on the beach, or visit a tanning spa together.
  5. Living creatures in the water, birds of the air – Visit your local Audubon Society, go bird watching together, set up a bird feeder in your backyard, go out for seafood, go fishing either fresh water or deep sea, watch an episode of Planet Earth.
  6. Land animals and people – Enjoy a delicious steak dinner and then have sex! 🙂
  7. REST.
  • Alphabet Dates – Yes, you can date your way through the Alphabet starting from A all the way to Z.
  • Passport Dates – Take a trip around the world one date at a time. Begin by making you and your spouse a personal Passport complete with pictures of each of you. Then, select a country where you would like to visit. Plan your first stop with an authentic meal either prepared at home, or at a nearby restaurant. Learn about their culture and try to do something together you’ve never done before–take a drum lesson together (Africa), try your feet at Salsa dancing (Brazil), Learn how to juggle (Hawaii). In this case the world really is your oyster!
  • Rendezvous Date – This is one where you pretend you don’t know each other and make plans to meet somewhere for dinner. On this date you’re not allowed to talk about your children because you’re pretending you don’t have them yet. The focus is completely on each other. Be sure to dress to impress too. You only have one chance for a good first impression!
  • Mystery Date – We’ve posted about this one that our son and daughter-in-love came up with. Flip a penny to see which turn you’ll make. This date is for the truly adventurous at heart.
  • Romantic Scavenger Hunt – make a list of things your spouse has to collect within a certain amount of time. Then assign a reward for each item on the list. For instance, they have to find a heart-shaped leaf and their reward would be to see you dressed in something sexy with hearts. Here are some more: Hershey kiss = french kiss, hand-written love message = hand massage, Lincoln penny=Lincoln $5 bill, movie ticket stub=new DVD of favorite movie, bottle of child’s bubbles=hot, bubble bath or bottle of champagne, cluster of grapes=bottle of wine, photograph of someone smiling from ear to ear=a cheese wedge, a carrot=14k gold jewelry (Hey, who says they have to all be  inexpensive. We can dream can’t we?) Basically, if your spouse is a good sport they will be rewarded for getting all the items on the list. The key is though, you can’t tell your spouse WHY they must gather all of these things. Let the rewards be a surprise.

What creative date ideas would you like to share? 

Posted in Christian Marriage, Creative Dates, Date Night Ideas, Dating Your Spouse, Romance, romancing your spouse | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Cheap Date Ideas

Posted on August 16, 2012 by Debi Walter

There was a time in my life when I would have taken offense at being called a “cheap date.” But once you’re married with small children, teenagers or without a job, a cheap date is a grateful option and becomes quite valuable. Many couples think if they are limited on money then the date night is the first thing that needs to go.

I would disagree.

When you’re forced to live on a limited budget date nights are even more important. When stress is high, the need to connect increases. And connecting is difficult if there isn’t time set aside to actually connect!

So now that you see the need, let’s talk about the how!

This is my favorite thing to do–brainstorm fun ideas when it seems there isn’t anything fun to do that’s also cheap.

Valuable Cheap Date Ideas:

  • Wherever you go hold hands. It is an easy way to connect and communicate the importance of being together.
  • Plan a dessert rendezvous under the stars. Set up two comfy chairs, get candles, a firepit or tiki torches – whatever you already have, and set the chairs around the fire. Get a small table using one from your house, and serve your dessert while enjoying the music provided by the crickets. See if you can spot a shooting star.
  • Set up a jigsaw puzzle on a table somewhere in your home where it won’t be in the way. Work on it together when you have some time. You’ll be surprised at how much casual conversation takes place while doing this.
  • Go to your local bookstore or library. Each of you split up for 15 minutes and find a non-fiction book you find interesting. For the next 15 minutes read until you discover something you did’t know before. Then spend the rest of the evening talking about what you’ve learned.
  • What was a favorite movie of yours before you and your spouse met? Plan an evening to watch it together. Don’t forget to include your favorite movie snacks too.
  • Have a spa night where you give each other massages. Afterward draw a warm bubble bath surrounded with candles and soft music.
  • If your spouse enjoys sports, plan an evening to watch a video of some the most memorable moments in sports history. If they’ve already seen all of them, then make your own trivia contest and see if you can stump them. If they win, they get to choose the prize. If you stump them, you get to choose. With this game no matter who loses still wins!
  • If you need more ideas, we have them under our D.R.A.B. date night category, which stands for “Does Not Require A Babysitter.”

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And we have about two weeks left in our Summer Lovin’ Photo Contest. taking place now through Labor Day. For details click here.

Posted in Cheap Dates, Christian Marriage, D.R.A.B., Date Night Ideas | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

9 Celebration Date Ideas

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Debi Walter

Does your spouse have a birthday coming up soon? Mine does; Tom’s birthday is on Saturday, and I’m excited to celebrate yet another year of his life. A kindness from God we can easily take for granted. I would love it if he were to receive lots of birthday greeting e-mails on Saturday from friends near and far! Imagine the surprise and the joy Tom will experience. If you are so inclined to think of him on Saturday, I would be grateful for your help with this endeavor. Send your e-mail to theromanticvineyard@gmail.com 🙂 Now I just have to think of a way to keep him from reading today’s post.

Life is to be celebrated!

Do you have an anniversary coming up soon? Then, make plans to do something to take your spouse’s breath away. There is no one on earth who knows how to do this better than you. Wives, romance on your anniversary shouldn’t be solely your husband’s responsibility; they need/want to be the recipient of our romance as well. After all it takes both of us to make a marriage work, so it makes sense that it should take both of  us to celebrate it each year.

Love is to be celebrated!

Graphics Credit: MichelleSedas.com

We can also celebrate accomplishments, such as big or small victories in our spouse’s life. Don’t let an opportunity to bless your spouse pass by without celebrating it to the best of your ability. Tom and I have often joked  because we’ve celebrated every phase of my book-writing process–He bought me a charm in Barbados when I finished the first draft; He took me to dinner when I completed the final manuscript; Now he’s planning a trip for us to Oklahoma when the book is published. I know how much he cares for me based on how he celebrates things that are important to me!

Does your spouse have your support when they accomplish a long-standing goal? Then celebrate it!

Here are 9 ideas for what you can do to celebrate life’s greatest moments:

  • Go to dinner and let the restaurant know what the occasion is you’re celebrating. Often they will have an added bonus free of charge.
  • If your spouse has a collection, pick out something that will commemorate this accomplishment. (The charm Tom bought me was a flip-flop with the imprint of a foot in it, representing my journey as a writer, and my love of flip-flops! 🙂 ) His thoughtfulness deeply affected me.
  • Blow up balloons for the number of years you’re celebrating. Add a note of gratefulness in each balloon for them to pop and read. You could even include some money for shopping spree, if your spouse enjoys shopping.
  • Make a CD of all your favorite love songs through the years. Put it in the CD player of their car on your anniversary or birthday without them knowing. When they’re driving somewhere, call them and tell them to turn the CD on and enjoy! You could even pack a cooler with their favorite snacks/drinks for an added touch of thoughtfulness for the road.
  • If you’ve saved cards or love letters, spend an evening going through them and remembering the kindness of God to you both through the years.
  • Plan a big birthday surprise. When Tom turned 40 I gave him a high-school prom themed party. He had always said he never went to one of his HS proms because he didn’t know a girl at the time he wanted to spend that much money on. Well, he had me now, so what better way to celebrate than to give him that prom he never attended. I used his class yearbook to find out the theme “Close To You,” and we used it for our night’s theme. Our friends came dressed in 1972 polyester suits and dresses. We played all the music from that year (even had a live band made up of long-time friends). Tom was crowned Prom King and I was his Queen. It was a memorable night to say the least!
  • Use the game of Life as a springboard to celebrate the life of your spouse. I used this theme when Tom turned 50. For a guest sign in, I made little squares that looked like the colorful squares of the game board. When the party was over I planned to make a Life board and have it framed. Sadly, this project was never finished, but the idea was good. Each table represented a different decade of Tom’s life, complete with pictures  from those years as a centerpiece. I had someone from each decade share publicly their memories of knowing Tom then. It was one of my favorite celebrations EVER. Tom’s dad even flew in from CA as a surprise.
  • Make a big sign on your spouse’s birthday and tape it to the back of their car without them knowing. I did this to Tom one year. The sign read, “Today is my birthday. Honk to wish me a happy one! P.S. My wife put this here without me knowing!” Hee hee!
  • If you’ve purchased a special gift for your wife on your anniversary, make the most of giving it to her. When we celebrated our 20th anniversary, we happened to be in AZ for a business trip. Tom had bought me a beautiful ring, and planned to give it to me while we stood on the edge of the south rim of the Grand Canyon. It is still one of my all-time favorite memories, as is the ring. The look on Tom’s face was similar to the look he had on our wedding day–priceless.

Many of these ideas are easy, and inexpensive, but sure to communicate your enthusiasm for your spouse’s life. This is the heart of celebrating, isn’t it?

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
(Romans 12:10 ESV)

What Celebration Date Ideas can you share from your own life?

Posted in Anniversaries, Birthdays, Celebration Dates, Celebrations, Christian Marriage, Date Night Ideas, Romance in Marriage, romancing your spouse | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

11 Artsy Date Ideas

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Debi Walter

We were taking a fresh look at The Romantic Vineyard recently and realized we have more Date Night Idea categories than we’ve posted about. This is due to the fact that Debi was extremely excited when we first started to blog that she listed every possible category for a good date night that she could think of.  So we thought it would be fun adding to the categories that are lacking content.

Here are 11 ideas for an Artsy Date

  • Take an afternoon off to visit a local art museum. For an added bit of fun, go a day ahead and make a scavenger hunt out of it. Write out clues and see if your spouse can figure out the answer. This one may be artsy, but it won’t be “fartsy.” 🙂
  • Go to an art festival. If you know one will take place in advance, save some money for it, and as a surprise let your spouse pick out something they love.
  • Spend an evening at your local pottery studio. Many of them offer date nights where wine and appetizers are served while you create your own pottery.
  • Visit a chocolate factory where you can make your own candy. Any time you use your hands together to create art, it has the potential of creating intimacy.
  • Take a cooking class together.
  • Watch a cooking show on TV. Record it. Buy the ingredients and spend the evening making your own artistic creation in the kitchen.
  • Visit an art gallery when you have lots of time to interpret the paintings. It can be fun making up stories to the abstract as well as to the surreal.
  • Buy tickets to a concert, symphony, play or ballet. Whatever you would both enjoy.
  • Buy some cheap finger paints and have fun. Better yet, finger paint with instant pudding! 🙂
  • Draw something creative on the sidewalk with your child’s sidewalk chalk. It could be an invitation to your artsy date.
  • If you’re near a beach, buy some nice sculpting tools and try your hands at creating sand art or sand castles.

Most of all have fun expressing your love in an artsy way.

Posted in Artsy Dates, Date Night Ideas | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Closings

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Debi Walter

Tonight the Olympics will broadcast the closing ceremony of the 30th Olympiad, and I’m sure it’s going to be worth watching. Imagine the thoughts of the athletes who won a medal? This closing is the end of a long training process where they saw their goals reached. It is, I’m sure, a happy closing.

But what about the ones who trained just as hard, but didn’t reach their goal? They are returning home without a medal, but what they do have is many memories of falling short of where they had hoped to be. This closing for them is disappointing, maybe even sad.

We all face closings of various kinds in our lives: closing on a new home (happy), closing of a family business (sad), closing of a relationship (happy or sad), closing of one chapter of life to embrace a new chapter (happy and sad). The emotions which follow us after such closings are to be expected. We are human. We have emotions. And this is how God has made us.

So how do we prepare for closings in our marriage?

The answer is two-fold: We talk about how we’re feeling with our spouse and we pray to the only One who can help us. It is in times like these that we realize how much our life, our marriage, is affected by the decisions we make and the road marked out for us.

The good news is God has not left us to figure out these closings on our own.

He is leading us and guiding us through the daytime as much as He is through the darkness. We can trust Him to help us walk away from the disappointments, the closed doors and the changing seasons with faith for the new doors which are sure to open and the encouraging appointments He has prepared for us.

Spring always follows winter and with it comes new life.

What closings have you faced recently in your marriage? Were they the happy kind or the sad/disappointing kind? How is God helping you embrace the changing season?

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For a list of what’s happening in the Orlando Area for Date Nights this week, check out Theresa Johnston’s About Orlando site

Posted in Date Night Ideas, Difficulty, Growing Strong Marriages, Mark Your Calendars (time sensitive), Olympics, Orlando Date Ideas, Seasons of Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

A Truth To Cling To

Posted on August 12, 2012 by Debi Walter

Good Morning,

Most of you will be gathering with your local church to worship the God we love and serve. What a privilege it is to know His Wondrous Love. This is what makes the difference in a marriage devoted to serving and glorifying Christ. It’s all about Him and His work in us.

May this song fill your heart with praise and your marriage with hope.

Sung by: Vikki Cook, written by Steve and Vikki Cook, from the album Before The Throne

Posted in Christian Marriage, Music, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Happy Hour

Posted on August 10, 2012 by Debi Walter

Yes, it’s been awhile since we’ve had time to read other blogs, much less post about them for you! Sorry. This is what happens when your world is turned upside-down. Thankfully, our feet have landed, and we’re getting our bearings in this new season of life.

Now for the blog posts we call our “Specials of the Week.” Enjoy…

Encourage Your Spouse

  • Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt – Oh My! If these three words are chasing you these days then, be “encouraged” by Lori’s excellent post. You may want to check out the Faith printable available on Etsy too.

Happy Wives Club

  • What To Do After You Say ‘I Do’ – A good reminder of how much more important it is to plan for the days AFTER the wedding than the day OF the wedding.
  • Journey of a Lifetime – I’m a little late on discovering Fawn’s trip around the world, but what a fun goal full of inspiration, I’m sure!

Hot, Holy and Humorous

Journey To Surrender

  • Marriage On Purpose – what would your purpose be for your marriage? Never thought about it? Well, don’t miss this important and helpful post.

One Flesh Marriage

  • Forgiving the Unforgivable – Are you struggling with forgiving your spouse about something?  If so, this post will help you in ways you may not realize you need. We pray it will be an answer to your prayers for help and hope in the difficult place.

To Love, Honor and Vacuum

  • Choosing Joy – Doing this is easier than you think. A great post by Sheila that is sure to make you think about many things in your day you probably don’t think about.

We Are That Family

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Re-Employment Update

Posted on August 10, 2012 by Debi Walter

We found great encouragement by this banner hanging from the cabin next door.

As you know Tom no longer has a job. We went away to the mountains of North Carolina last week to be alone and mostly to listen. Tom prayed. I prayed. We prayed together and read God’s Word. It was exactly as we hoped it would be, and God met us.

One morning I heard something specific for Tom during this season. But since it was directional in nature I purposed to wait to tell him until I felt prompted by the Lord to do so. As we were leaving our amazing and romantic one-bedroom cabin 🙂 I asked Tom if he had heard anything specific from the Lord. Imagine my surprise when he shared with me that he had heard exactly what I had heard! I was able to confirm what he was sensing, and we both came away satisfied with God meeting us as we had hoped.

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When was the last time you purposed to hear from God separately and/or together? Did He meet you in a special way?

Posted in Christian Marriage, communication, Difficulty, Growing Strong Marriages, Seasons of Life, The Gospel & Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

A Huge Slip Flop

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Debi Walter

It was bound to happen. Olympians are, after all only humans. But oh, to be the one to whom it happens–embarrassing to say the least!

German Diver, Stephen Feck slipped as he was launching off the board and ended up flopping flat on his back. Ouch! The crowd erupted with laughter. Stephen lost a couple of toenails which surely hurt, but certainly not as painful as the humiliation of such a dive.

He will be remembered as the one who scored perfect zeroes at the Olympics. Sadly, he withdrew himself from the competition because he was in too much pain. You can watch the video at NBC’s Olympic website. They are shutting down all unauthorized videos which are sure to go viral.

Why is it our natural tendency is to rejoice when someone messes up? Is it because it makes us feel better? Or that even a well-trained athlete isn’t perfect? Whatever the reason, based on the following list of articles blanketing the internet, everyone will know the name of Stephen Feck. He’s not likely to receive any endorsements either.

Our sympathies go out to Feck, and we pray God will use this in his life for good in some way or another.

But what about when our marriages flop? We all know couples who seem to have it all together. From the outside it looks like their relationship is perfect. But we know it’s not. We’re all human and plagued with the same sin nature. It is who we are, and we have no hope of changing, but for the grace of God. He is the only One who can help us score big in our marriage. If we allow ourselves to slip into self-sufficiency thinking we’ve got this marriage thing down, be careful indeed.

This is a slippery slope.

None of us are above temptations pull. Each day is a new opportunity to mess things up royally. This is why from the moment our feet touch the floor in the morning until our head hits the pillow at night we must be on guard. We will never arrive until God calls us home.

We live in an imperfect world. Sure, the Olympics provide us with amazing athletes–one even scored a perfect 10 in 1976–but even their best efforts don’t prevent them from making mistakes and neither will ours. How grateful I am to know our mistakes aren’t caught on video for all the world to see!

As you pray for your marriage today, whatever difficultly you’re facing, remember the grace of God that is available to help you through the challenge. And say a prayer for Stephen Feck too. I have a sense he needs the comfort only God can give.

Posted in Christian Marriage, Difficulty, Growing Strong Marriages, Olympics, Temptation, The Gospel & Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Back To The Basics – Works

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Debi Walter

Photo Credit: NPR.org

They run because it is the fastest way out of poverty in their country. The Kenyan Olympic team uses basic methods that produce olympic results.

The residents of Iten is well-known as the “Home of Champions.” And there is good reason for it. The town sits 8,000 feet above sea level, and it’s 6 miles down to the valley. This group of villagers are devoted to daily runs where the air is thin and the slopes are steep.

If a runner is privileged to be chosen to train in the Run-Fast Camp, they are given basic accommodations, simple balanced food and consistent training. But it’s not a fancy place by any means. Their diet consists of corn, beans, kale and sometimes a steak.

So why are their results so profound?

Experts say it’s because they want it. They know that to win in running is to guarantee success in life. As a result, every day at 9a. they line up on a red clay rutted road to run long, hard and fast as their fellow villagers look on shouting accolades and praise. Yes, they are the pride of all who call this place home. And for good reason.

They’ve proven the basics work!

What inspiration to apply to our marriages as well. We can get caught up with the latest book, seminar or comic speaker all telling us how to better our relationship, but in reality all we really need is a greater understanding of how the basic Biblical truths apply to us today.

The Bible teaches us:

  • Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. (Ephesians 5:25-31 ESV)
  • Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22 ESV)
  • …let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:33 ESV)

These attitudes flow from hearts who are more interested in the good of the other than they are in their own good. This is Biblical love expressed in the one flesh union of a husband and wife.

If you commit to do these basics, loving your spouse in this way, then your marriage is sure to grow. You may even win accolades from those who are watching from the sidelines making your home one of marriage champions.

How could you train yourself to love your spouse in this way?

It will take the help of the Holy Spirit to infuse you with His power from on high. But He is more than willing to help us. He’s promised to do so in His Word.

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Don’t forget our Summer Lovin’ Photo Contest taking place now through Labor Day. For details click here.

Posted in Christian Marriage, Growing Strong Marriages, Olympics, The Gospel & Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

A Lesson From Blade Runner

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Debi Walter

South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius, aka the Blade Runner, heads to the finish line in his 400-meter heat on Saturday in London. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times / August 4, 2012)

If you’ve been watching the Olympics at all, you’ve certainly heard of him. He’s one of the most talked about participants in the 2012 games. His nickname is Blade Runner and for good reason, Oscar Pistorius from South Africa lost both legs when he was only 11 months old due to a birth defect. His infectious optimism is credited in large part to his late mom, Sheila, who insisted his disability wouldn’t hold him back; she encouraged him as a boy to do whatever he saw his older brother doing. And as a toddler this is exactly what he would do. He saw his disability as a challenge rather than a hindrance.

He was fitted with prosthetic blades making him the first double-amputee to compete in the Olympics. He is an inspiration to all who have come to know him in London.

South Africa’s ‘Blade Runner’ Oscar Pistorius. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire

Oscar shared, “my mom would often tell me a loser is not a person who gets involved and comes in last, but it’s the person who doesn’t get involved at all.”

Do you ever feel as if your marriage is losing? Like you’re falling behind where you think you should be or hoped to be by now? Well let Mr. Pistorius encourage you. It isn’t how fast we run or the records we break, but the attitude we bring with us that makes all the difference.

Oscar has had an impact on everyone he meets, and it’s not his legs that get him noticed, it’s his smile.

No one is more grateful to be here. His expression reveals the gratefulness he has to even be in London, whether or not he places in the 400m. race. He is grateful for the fans, grateful for the competition and grateful to have the freedom to run at all.

How grateful are you for your marriage? Are you facing difficult times in your relationship? Are you letting this hold you back from being grateful for the privilege it is to be married in the first place? Let’s not use our trials as an excuse for a weak marriage, but rather let’s embrace the trial with faith for what God can do in spite of them. True strength is born out of weakness, for the Bible states that when I am weak, then I am strong. 

It is God alone who can help us in our weakness to do things we could never do on our own. And when we do, there is no doubt who gets the glory.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV)

Posted in Christian Marriage, Difficulty, Growing Strong Marriages, Olympics, The Gospel & Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A Lesson From Blade Runner

What Motivates You?

Posted on August 3, 2012 by Debi Walter

Photo Credit: cs.thehorse.com

He’s the oldest Olympian taking part in the 2012 London Games, and at 71 he’s the most respected.

Meet Hiroshi Hoketsu from Japan. He first entered the Olympics in 1968 where he competed in Equestrian Jumping. His second time at the games was in 2008 in Beijing. Although he never won a medal for his participation, this didn’t stop him from coming back a third time.

Why, you may ask?

Because he loves to compete, whether or not he receives the gold, silver or bronze. And this love and devotion has had an impact on all who know him. He would consider returning in 2016, but his horse, Whisper, will be too old to compete.

What can we learn from Mr. Hoketsu for our marriages? Mostly that loyalty and commitment that last a lifetime are to be praised regardless of the praise or rewards received from men. When asked how long he plans to compete, listen to what he said, “as long as I feel I keep improving.” His goal isn’t to win the gold or even a medal for that matter.

His goal is to keep improving.

Imagine if we took our motivation from the fact that our marriage is improving each year? We may not be where we want to be, but we can thank God that we aren’t where we were this time last year or five years ago.

Tom and I have been away this past week with one mindset–to not look behind, but to look ahead. Sure we have many disappointments that have transpired in the past few years, but God is calling us to focus on pursuing what’s to come, like this 71 year old Equestrian rider. As long as improving is our goal, there is no limit to what God can do in and through our marriage. And there is no limit to what God can do in yours!

The question is what motivates us to push forward? Is it being the best or simply being better? 

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Don’t forget our Summer Lovin’ Photo Contest taking place now through Labor Day. For details click here.

Posted in Christian Marriage, Growing Strong Marriages, Olympics, The Gospel & Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Not Good Enough

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Debi Walter

We have been considering the Olympics in light of marriage – applying the analogy of a good Olympian to a good marriage.

Yesterday we watched as Michael Phelps went for his 18th medal in swimming the 200m butterfly. If he won the gold he would set an Olympic record for winning the gold three consecutive times in the same event.

His form was amazing. His skill obvious. And his speed was fast–super fast, as our grandson would say. 🙂 But on the final lap he touched the wall .05 of a second short of gold. He still had a silver medal, but the look on his face showed his disappointment. He didn’t measure well in his own eyes because someone else did better.

Photo Credit: Baltimore Sun

How often do you look at other marriages and wish yours could be like theirs? How often do you compare your spouse to the spouse of a friend and wish he/she could just be like them in “this” way. Your spouse may do many things well. They may far exceed others in certain areas, but the one area you are craving change never seems to improve. They constantly fall short of your expectations because in your eyes, someone else is doing it better.

This is a pattern many marriages live with, and it is detrimental to the health of a godly marriage. We mustn’t compare what we have or don’t have with others. God is the one who gives gifts to men. We may be expecting something of our spouse they aren’t capable of producing. And who are we to say what would be best for our spouse, for our marriage? God alone determines our lot in life:

The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
(Psalm 16:5-6 ESV)

Instead of coming out of the water disappointed in a swim not quite good enough, let’s come up grateful we were able to swim at all. Ungratefulness breeds discontent which leads to sin, and sin always kills. On the other hand, life is found in being grateful for what you’ve been given, and thus, trusting God to bring the needed change in your spouse and marriage.

Remember these truths the next time you’re tempted to think your spouse or your marriage is not good enough.

Posted in Christian Marriage, Difficulty, Growing Strong Marriages, The Gospel & Marriage | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Who Is Yours?

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Debi Walter

Photo Credit: indiatalkies.com

Every athlete, no matter what country they represent, has one. The athletes listen to their every word and look to them first for their approval after their performance. In watching the Olympics I’ve been struck by their influence. Who is this person?

It’s their coach.

Their coach has been with them from the beginning, helping them form their goals, strengthen their skills and polish their performance. They provide the wisdom needed for the aspiring Olympians. Without them, no one would have a chance to succeed. And when they do succeed no one cheers louder, except maybe their parents. 🙂

So why is it we think marriage is less deserving of this kind of input? What if we were to have a marriage coach to help us, train us and watch over every conversation to make sure it was leading us and our relationship toward our stated goals.

We do have a marriage coach, but are we listening to Him?

The Holy Spirit has been given to us to help us remember what is of most importance. Even the disciples were unsure they would be able to remember all that Christ had taught them in His three years of ministry. But Christ assured them He would send them a Helper who would bring to their remembrance all that He had instructed them. And He was faithful to His promise.

We have the Holy Spirit to help us grow our marriage for His glory. But are we listening? Do we take time to hear what He is saying to us today about our latest conflict? Our latest challenge? Our latest blessing? He has a purpose for our marriage in everything we face together. Is it an obstacle we’re confronted with? Then, know that God is wanting to help us overcome it. Is it a continual argument between the two of you that never seems to have an answer? Then, God is after something in the struggle.

God wastes nothing, not even our disagreements. He uses them to grow us and make us stronger as a result. We are not alone, and better yet, God has promised He will complete the work He’s begun in our hearts and our marriage.

Let’s listen to His voice today. He’s calling us to endure, to not give up, but to press on, in order to become all He has purposed for us to be.

In 1996, the U.S. Women’s gymnastics team was up against Russia for the gold. We had one opportunity to finally defeat them, but the challenge grew as one gymnast fell not once, but twice threatening the lead the United States team had secured. It was up to one athlete, Kerri Strug, a 4 foot 9 powerhouse from AZ. She would prove to a watching world what devotion and determination look like.

She performs a difficult vault that requires a handspring and a twisting dismount. As she descends through the air toward the ground, she slips on her landing and falls on her backside. She also hears a snap in her left ankle. There is disbelief in the crowd. The gold, it appears, is gone when Strug’s score — 9.162 — is flashed on the board.

Strug falls to her knees, disregarding her injured ankle. Her parents, sitting in the stands, cover their faces. As Strug rises and begins psyching herself up for her second and final vault, pain shoots through her leg. Turns out, she has suffered two torn ligaments in the ankle.

Left to herself she may have given in to defeat. But listen to what her coach does next:

U.S. Coach Bela Karolyi walks over to the ailing Strug, puts his arm around her and says softly, “Kerri, we need you to go one more time. We need you one more time for the gold.”

Strug rises from the floor, removes the ice pack from her ankle and says a prayer: “Please, God, help me make this vault.” She’s performed this vault more than a thousand times. “I know I can do it one more time, injured ankle or not,” she thinks to herself.

Her coach appeals to her. He reminds her of her goal and how close it is. He assures her he will be with her afterward to help her, only give it your best, he pleads.

Strug sprints down the runway on her damaged ankle. Across the way, the Russian gymnasts, stop and watch. Strug leaps high into the air. She performs a back handspring onto the vault, perfectly. Then she descends through the air, toward the ground. Everyone on the sidelines and in the crowd winces, knowing that when Strug lands, it’s going to be as painful as someone smashing a medal rod against your ankle.Strug lands hard on both feet, amazingly without stumbling. Yet when she lands, she hears another crack in the same ankle. She gingerly picks up her damaged ankle and folds it behind her, keeping her balance, to the shock of everyone in the crowd and everyone watching on TV. Her mind tells her body to stand upright for the traditional post-performance pose. She hops on one foot to face one side of the crowd, then hops again to face the other, all the while holding up her injured ankle.Strug’s teammates begin leaping on the sideline. Strug, meanwhile, hops around a quarter turn, arms raised, and forces a big smile for the judges while the Georgia Dome crowd of 32,048 lets out a roar. She holds the pose for a few seconds, just long enough to please the judges, then she falls to the floor and grimaces in agonizing pain as the ovation continues.

Kerri Strug did what her coach had asked of her. And when it came time to receive the Gold Medal on the podium, the paramedics wanted to get her to a hospital for much needed medical attention. But she refused. She wanted to be there with her team, and her coach made sure it would happen.

He carried her to the podium where the National Anthem was played in honor of this team of girls who were willing to go for the prize no matter the pain or the cost.

Imagine if we were to embrace this kind of commitment in our marriage?

Pain is inevitable. Hardship is certain, but God is right there with us ready to carry us when needed and support us through it all.

We offer Kerri’s prayer in closing, “Please God, help us make our marriage work for Your glory and the good of all who are watching.”

Posted in Christian Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

To Know Him

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Debi Walter

We are away this week for one purpose only and that is to know Jesus Christ and what his plan is for us in this next season. We are overwhelmed with the number of you who have contacted us to let us know you’re praying for us, and for this we are grateful beyond words.

We awoke this morning with this song on our heart. May you be drawn to seek only Jesus in whatever circumstances you’re facing right now. He who has promised is faithful!

Posted in Christian Marriage, Growing Strong Marriages, Music, Priorities, Spiritual Intimacy, The Gospel & Marriage, Worship | Tagged | 7 Comments