Happy Hour

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Debi Walter

Yes, it’s time for us to share with you the posts of other marriage bloggers we think are special. Take some time this weekend to visit them.

An added plus? All of these bloggers are members of the newly formed Christian Marriage Bloggers Association, of which we have the privilege of being a part. Whenever you see this symbol on a marriage blog site:

…you’ll know they have a biblically sound blog as stated in the mission statement of CMBA. To read the mission statement, simply click the button. 🙂

Now for our specials of the week:

Affaircare

  • The Perfect Apology – Cindy offers an easy way to remember to make the most of your apologies for the sake of your marriage.

Encourage Your Spouse

Hot, Holy and Humorous

Intimacy In Marriage

  • Is Crappy Sexual Intimacy Your Normal? – Julie does an excellent job in explaining how easily we can settle for mediocre in our sexual relationship. It doesn’t have to be this way, as you’ll read.

Journey To Surrender

Marriage Life

  • Identity Crisis – If you both get this one thing right in your marriage, we can honestly say your marriage will succeed. God is faithful!

Marriage Missions International

  • Finishing Well – On March 18th Steve and Cindy Wright celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. This gives them reason to post on such a topic as finishing well. Congratulations to two, very dear friends, who make marriage look very good!

Marriage Works

  • Take Your Hurt To God – If you are struggling to get over a hurt your spouse caused, this is a must read!

My Beloved Is Mine

  • My Heart Hurts – A beautiful tribute to a marriage displaying the sacred vow, “til death do us part.”

Mystery32

  • Money Matters – this is a blog I’ve recently discovered, and it is refreshing and inviting. While the couple has been married just under 5 years, you will find her thoughts provoking and encouraging.

One Flesh Marriage

  • Submission = Responsibility – And it should cause husbands to have a healthy fear when they realize this responsibility. A great post!

The Generous Husband

  • Who Am I? – Another excellent post by Paul. Guys, if you only have time for one post…make it this one!

The Generous Wife

  • Tip Me Over – Lori pours out her heart on a very personal struggle that seemed to suddenly change overnight. But did it really? We’re so glad she shared this!

The Marriage Bed

  • Generosity–A Virtuous Cycle – If your marriage is struggling with selfishness and conflict, you may be caught in a “vicious cycle.” Read this to see how to change it, but be forewarned, it will cost you something.

The Stupendous Marriage Show

  • Stu and Lisa Gray provide regular podcast where they interview other marriage bloggers, talk about marriage troubles, and a host of other great topics. Check them out by clicking the above link.

To Love Honor and Vacuum

  • The Hunger Games Are Coming – For those of you who are curious as to the content of this movie, Sheila gives her perspective on the series she read.
Posted in Blog Love, Christian Marriage, Growing Strong Marriages, Happy Hour | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Hello, The Sea Is Calling

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Tom Walter

Tonight we were sitting together watching TV when a commercial came on that took our breath away! It made Debi tear up, so we knew we had to share it with you. Kudos to Royal Caribbean for such a brilliant ad campaign. When was the last time you planned some romance in your marriage? It doesn’t have to be a cruise, but something to make your spouse say, “Wow!”

Yep, this is why we blog. Enjoy…

Posted in Romance in Marriage, romancing your husband, romancing your spouse, romancing your wife, Romantic Ideas, Romantic Vacation Ideas | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

365 Acts of Love

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Tom and Debi

We have been following the quest of one husband to change the way he loves his wife. His goal is to show her 365 acts of love without her knowing of his quest. He documents what he does on a blog aptly named, 365 Acts of Love. At the end of the 365 days he plans to give her the blog as a gift, and most likely she’ll have a husband who has grown more in his love for God and his love for her. We’ve already seen the transformation taking place. It has been exciting to watch.

He asked if he could interview us for one of his posts. We were humbled at his request, and today he is featuring our interview on his blog.

For “my” 174th act of love for you, I interviewed Tom and Debi Walter from The Romantic Vineyard (an incredible marriage blog) about marriage. The thoughtfulness, sincerity, and downright usefulness of their answers really amazed me. Thanks, Tom and Debi! You’ve given my wife and me a tremendous gift. And keep up the great work on your blog.

(1)   How important to your marriage is your relationship with God?

Our relationship with God is primary. He is the only reason our marriage works, because we are only able to love because He first loved us.

(2)   What do you do to grow in God together?

We talk about our church’s sermons each week. We have our personal devotions each morning separately, but we’re reading the same Bible-reading plan. We’ve done this for the past few years, and what a difference it has made in our spiritual intimacy. We can talk about what we’re currently reading and we’re working to apply it to our life.

(3)   What does commitment look like in your marriage?

Commitment is doing what you know you ought to do whether you feel like it or not. Commitment is loving your spouse when they aren’t so lovable. Commitment is outdoing one another in showing acts of kindness to each other. Commitment is living your marriage vows with no option of divorce. Tom told me when we first were married that divorce would never be an option for us. We would have to work on any problems we faced—that’s commitment!

(4)   What’s the key to a happy marriage? A loving marriage? A lifelong marriage?…continue reading.

Posted in A Fragrant Aroma, Christian Marriage, Growing Strong Marriages, Testimonies, The Gospel & Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Add Some Spring Romance In Your Step

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Debi Walter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In case you haven’t heard, today is the first day of Spring! Why not adapt a new tradition; celebrate in a special way with your mate.

S = Spring rolls. Serve these as an appetizer with your favorite sparkling drink. Here’s a great recipe to try making them yourself.

P = Park. Visit a nearby park for a sunset picnic. Take lots of pictures to look back on in the years ahead.

R = Rent a Movie set in the Spring like The Secret Garden, or any of the classics about baseball, like The Natural, with Robert Redford (goes with the “R”).

I = Ice Cream. Go out tonight after dinner for your favorite ice cream cone.

N = Night Sky. Enjoy a nightcap under the night sky. If you have a smart phone check out one of the Constellation apps to gaze heavenward. Or if you live in the country use a telescope. Keep watching until you spot a shooting star.

G = Garden Center. Visit your local garden center together and pick out some new flowers to plant. Or surprise your spouse by bringing them home as a gift.

NOTE: These ideas don’t have to be done today. Spread them out and do them over the first week of Spring. Or pick just one as your way of opening the door and letting the fresh air of Springtime into your marriage. Great traditions have to begin sometime. Why not let this be a new one your adopt.

Happy Spring!

Posted in Creative Dates, Date Night Ideas, Dating Your Spouse, Romance in Marriage, romancing your spouse, Romantic Ideas, Spring Date Ideas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Be All There

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Tom Walter

I am resolved to be completely present wherever I am. 

I’ve realized recently that too often I’m not present mentally, though I may be physically. I am often distracted in the present by the future, which robs me of all God has for me in the here and now. Here are a few examples that maybe you can relate to:

  • When I’m home, I’m anticipating the next day at work.
  • When I’m traveling for work, I can find myself thinking of things I need to do at home.
  • When I’m having my devotional time with the Lord, I can be distracted by my to-do list.
  • When our family is over and wanting to play a game, I often disappear into another room to get some “work done.”
  • I have even interrupted a date night or two with thoughts about work issues. Debi will ask me a question when I get quiet, “what are you thinking?” It’s then I have to confess, my mind isn’t where it should be.

Making a habit of this keeps me from experiencing the joy God has for me today. I am often restless and unable to completely relax.

I’ve realized that in my attempts to multi-task, I am missing opportunities to fully engage with those I’m currently with. I shared with Debi this afternoon my resolve to be all there, wherever it is I am. She smiled sharing what an answer to prayer it was to hear me say this. I’m happy to say we’ve enjoyed a very relaxing Sunday. I pray this is an indication of the peace and rest God has for me in all the days to come.

How about you? Will you resolve with me to be all there?

♥ Things To Do In Orlando ♥

CENTRAL

  • Uptown Altamonte – Friday Night Live will take place on March 23rd from 7p – 9p. FREE.

NORTH

  • Sanford – Art Walk on Friday, March 23rd starting at 6p. This month’s theme is “Mixed Media March Madness.” FREE.
  • Mt. Dora – Spring Antiques and Craft Show will take place on Saturday and Sunday, March 24th and 25th from 9a. – 5p.
  • Eustis – Downtown Cruise-In on Saturday, March 24th from 5p – 9p. come enjoy dinner in historic downtown Eustis while enjoying the classic cars as they parade through town.

EAST

SOUTH

  • Lake Wales – Bok Tower Gardens presents Live at the Gardens Concert Series on Sunday, March 25th from 5p – 7p. Tickets at $25. Performing on the historic Steinway in the intimate setting at Pinewood Estate, pianist Gary Wolf and violinist-violist Matitiahu Braun return after playing to a standing ovation at Pinewood. Both have performed throughout the U.S. and Europe. Wolf is Professor Emeritus at UCF and Artist-in-Residence at Rollins College in Winter Park while Braun teaches violin and viola at Rollins College.

WEST

 

Posted in Christian Marriage, communication, Date Night Ideas, Growing Strong Marriages, Mark Your Calendars (time sensitive), Priorities | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Happy Hour

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Debi Walter

With my Mom’s 90th birthday party tomorrow, I haven’t had as much time to read other blogs as I would like. BUT, I did take some time to update our Wine Train Blog Roll. We highly recommend these websites, and we encourage you to spend some time reading their posts.

Here are the few Specials of the Week we managed to read and recommend for your reading pleasure!

Engaged Marriage

Prodigal Magazine

  • The Day My Dad Almost Died – Allison Vesterfelt shares a compelling story about God’s grace in the midst of life, and marriage-threatening difficulty. If you struggle with believing in the goodness of God towards you, this is a post you must read.

Sarah Markley–The Best Days of My Life

  • Embracing The Scary – Although this post isn’t about marriage, it addresses a topic which can adversely affect a marriage. If you or your spouse struggles with fear, please read this post!
Posted in Blog Love, Christian Marriage, Happy Hour | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Happy Hour

Showing Honor

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Debi Walter

Photo Credit: Made In His Image blog

Most of us are familiar with the practice of introducing a guest speaker, either at a conference or church function. Usually the person chosen to introduce the guest speaker knows the person well enough to add interest and intrigue to the honoree. I remember one time when Tom was leading a home group in our home, he had the husbands come prepared to introduce their wife as if she were the next speaker at a large event. It was amazing to hear the carefully composed words each husband chose to introduce the woman they loved with all their heart.

Sketch from parenthetically.blogspot.com

So we want to encourage you to set aside some time to write out what you would say if you were asked to introduce your spouse at an event. Then read your introduction aloud to your spouse.

It is good to speak well of our spouse in their hearing.

It is even better to speak well of our spouse in the hearing of others.

But most of all it is good for us to practice speaking well of our spouse (period), for it increases our appreciation of the gift God has given us.

How well do you speak of your spouse in the presence of others?  

Posted in Christian Marriage, communication | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Shame On You!

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Tom and Debi

This phrase is often said when someone does something they shouldn’t have. Like when a child deliberately goes against their parents’ wishes bringing embarrassment or shame.

But the shame we want to talk about involves the marriage relationship. Oftentimes shame is brought into the marriage by one spouse who has chosen to keep a secret about past sins or experiences. It can be debilitating to say the least.

Shame causes one to hide. Shame causes one to fear being known. Shame goes against everything the marriage covenant is intended to provide–open and honest relationship in the safety of a life-long relationship.  Shame divides.

Photo Credit: renewaldynamics.com

Shame first came on the scene when Eve disobeyed God’s command in the Garden. Immediately she knew what she had done was wrong, and shame caused her to hide from the only One who truly loved her.

In marriage our shame can cause us to hide from the only one on this earth who has committed to love us–our spouse. Ed Welch has an excellent article titled, The Many Faces of Shame. He described why it is important to identify its presence:

I think if we drag it out of the shadows and define it, then we might – we will – be able to speak to it. And once we start speaking about it, we won’t stop, because shame is everywhere (and God’s words to it are everywhere in Scripture).

Shame is, indeed, less black and white than guilt. It can plague you because of what you did, what you didn’t do, what others did to you, or what others didn’t do to you. Just for starters.

How can we determine if shame is hiding in our hearts? I think anyone who is reading this will find the words jumping off the page to them, and their heart beating harder as a result. If we’re a born-again believer in Christ’s work on the Cross, the Holy Spirit lives within us;  He is committed to help us be free from the grip of sin. And He won’t stop until we take our last breath. Shame is no different. Although it may not be shame for a sin we’ve committed, it could be shame for something we didn’t do.

Assume you have it. Some of us have it in such a way that it touches everything everyday. Others receive frequent visits from shame though it doesn’t live with them.

Shame has to do with your standing before God and your standing in the community. You think you should be unaffected by the opinions and words of other people? Not so. We were created to live in community, and anything that jeopardizes our inclusion goes against who we really are.

Worthlessness is an easy place to begin defining shame. Have you ever felt worthless? I am guessing that I am not alone in this one. I feel worthless when I notice student indifference after a lecture, when I preach and know that I was less than helpful, when I become alert to my weaknesses as a counselor and wonder why I am inflicting myself on people, and, of course, I could go on.

Worthlessness evokes images of value. It means that your standing with others has gone way down. You know you are a failure, so does everyone else. Our despair over our worthlessness could reflect our pride. That is, “I feel so bad because I want to be great.” And, no doubt, there is pride mixed in with worthlessness. But Jesus doesn’t go to lepers and talk about their pride. Instead, he touches them as a way to show his fellowship and acceptance, and he restores them to his community, though acceptance into the community of mortals like us is not guaranteed.

Shame. You feel worthless, rejected, dirty and exposed. Sometimes you feel it because of what you have done, in which case your badness must exceed community standards. For example, there are some things that Christians confess in public – a little bit of lust, anxieties about money, not listening to a spouse, erratic quiet times. These are the sins that, when you confess them, everyone is nodding in agreement. But there are other acts that leave everyone else in silence because these sins are less common and less acceptable. Shame attaches itself to these sins.

We have merely scratched the surface of how shame affects marriage. For more study on this topic, Winston Smith has written some excellent articles which are sure to help you:

The most important thing is to make sure there is no shame hiding in your relationship. Let there be no shame on you or your spouse. Christ came to set us free from all sin, including the effects of another’s sin against us.

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

Éirinn go Brách

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Tom and Debi

Graphic Credit: Customize.org

Translated the above title means Ireland Forever. 

In 1996 we were privileged to visit Ireland. It was one of the most beautiful places we have ever been. We thought we knew what the color green was, but honestly, you haven’t seen green until you’ve seen the Emerald Isle–appropriately named.

As a result, St. Patrick’s Day holds a special memory for us, and we love to celebrate with great food and fun. But this year is special; we will be celebrating my Mom’s 90th birthday at our home. We’ve invited all the family to come and honor her for her life and love. It will be a fun day, for sure.

Don’t miss this chance to bless your spouse with a touch of the green, whether you’re Irish or not. Check out our Romantic St. Patrick’s Day Ideas under the Husband Only and Wives Only tabs above. You can also look us up on Pinterest for more St. Patrick’s Day ideas, or if you missed our Rainbow’s End Date Night Idea, check it out. It would be a fun way to celebrate the holiday. The most important thing is to make these special holidays a great excuse for some extra romance!

♥ Things To Do In Orlando ♥

CENTRAL

NORTH

  • Mt. Dora – Lake Dora Car Classic at the historic Lakeside Inn will take place on Saturday, March 17th. See site for details.
  • Eustis – A Musical Evening at the Historic State Theatre on Friday, March 16th. The show begins at 7:30p. and tickets are $15.
  • Altamonte Springs – Uptown Altamonte presents Friday Night Live on March 16th from 7p – 9p. This weeks featured band is The Robert Harris Group, providing jazz and pop hits.

EAST

SOUTH

  • Lake Wales – Bok Tower Gardens presents a tribute to Ireland on Saturday, March 17th from 1p – 3p. Special concert included with general admission.
Posted in Date Night Ideas, Holidays, Mark Your Calendars (time sensitive), Orlando Date Ideas, romancing your husband, romancing your spouse, romancing your wife, romantic date nights | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Happy Hour

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Debi Walter

Welcome to 5p. on Friday. It’s time for the weekend to begin, and what better way than to have some really special posts to read to encourage you in your marriage. We have some regulars and some new blogs to offer you this weekend. Enjoy!

Busy Bliss

Couple Things Blog

Engaged Married

I Love This Husband & Wife Stuff


  • Divorce Is Not An Option – This blog provides glimpses into the thoughts and interactions between a husband and wife. It is funny, real and encouraging too.

J.C. Ryle Quotes

  • The Plea of Jesus to YOU: Come To Me – Although this isn’t a marriage blog, it is a blog devoted to the quotes from J.C. Ryle. Mr. Ryle is one of my favorite preachers of all time. He had a passion for the word of God, and his quotes always draw the believer’s heart closer to Him. Be encouraged here by signing up to receive these quotes daily.

Journey To Surrender

One Flesh Marriage


  • Emotional Foreplay – This post is written for the men by Brad, but wives should read it too, for much needed insight.
  • Emotional Alphabet – This post is written for the women by Kate, but husbands should read it too, for confirmation of what you already know, but most likely couldn’t put into words. 🙂

The Stupendous Marriage Show

  • Adding Fruit To Your Sex Life – It’s not what you think, but hey…take inspiration anywhere you can find it. 😉 This post is from February, but we love it!

The Daily ReTort


  • Fairness Is Overrated – Tor Constantino is an excellent writer who provides compelling posts. This one isn’t about marriage per se, however, the Truth about fairness on God’s terms will help any marriage when applied. God doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, so we can love our spouse whether they deserve it or not.

The Generous Husband

  • Lust: I WANT You – Paul takes up the same topic as his wife, Lori on The Generous Wife, but from a different perspective.  He also provides links to some other great marriage blogs we recommend on the topic of Sex and Intimacy.

The Generous Wife

  • What’s On Your Playground – Lori shares every Friday a post to encourage wives in pursuing their husband sexually. Great insight as to our boundaries – you may be surprised.
Posted in Blog Love, Christian Marriage, Growing Strong Marriages, Happy Hour, The Gospel & Marriage | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Necessary Adjustments

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Debi Walter

We are having to make some adjustments on The Romantic Vineyard, largely due to other responsibilities we have which are pressing:

  1. My Mom is turning 90 on March 15th. It is a blessing to have her with us still. She is healthy and active, as much as her body will allow her to be. We are planning an Open House this month to honor her as we should.
  2. I am working on the final edits for my book – based on the life of my grandmother in the early 1900’s. It has been a work in process for 10 years, and in my heart for over 25! My biggest desire is to have this published in time for my Mom to see it and enjoy it. She has been my biggest fan, support and encouragement, next to Tom. It’s hard to believe that I am finally nearing the end of this journey.
  3. We have extended family members coming to visit this month.
  4. Tom is traveling quite a bit too.

All this to say, we believe God is leading us to reduce our number of posts to three times a week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. If we are able we will post more, but we didn’t want you to wonder why we had the reduced number of posts. We feel called to encourage marriages, to post regularly, but this month is an unusual season where we must choose our priorities rightly. We pray you understand and that you will continue to pray for us as we follow the Lord day-by-day.

Thank you for being a part of our lives. We appreciate you and pray often for your marriages to grow for His glory.

Posted in Date Night Ideas | Tagged , | 9 Comments

When The Storm Passes

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Debi Walter

image from Picasa by thepqnation.com

Last weekend one of the worst weather systems we’ve ever seen marched across the south and midwest like a fierce army.  There wasn’t much anyone could do except hide and pray.  Entire towns were swept from the landscape like debris.  It was a day we’ll not soon forget. If you were in the path of the storms, you will never forget it.

On Saturday we were told this same system would be heading our way. Although it wouldn’t have the same punch, there would still be high winds and lots of rain, possibly hail. Tom was going out of town from Sunday to Wednesday, so we only had Saturday afternoon to prepare.

He got on the roof to clean out the gutters. I went to work pruning my roses, planting my dahlia bulbs and fertilizing everything for the soaking rain.

I tell you all this because while we were busy working I realized how much preparing for a storm relates to marriage. When you know a difficult season is coming in your relationship there are things we can do to get ready:

  • Cleaning the gutters can be compared to cleaning out offenses. Are you holding onto any struggle you should be getting rid of? If you know there is a difficult, stressful time ahead, then get rid of the trouble weighing you down. Don’t allow past offenses to effect your ability to weather the storm. Gutters aren’t meant to hold things. It’s sole purpose is to redirect the flow of water during a storm. Are the gutters of your relationship cleaned out? If not, plan a day to do so.
  • Pruning the roses can be compared to trimming our schedule of busyness. Re-evaluate what you spend your time doing. Is it producing life and beauty in your marriage? Or would it be better to cut it out of your life to some degree or completely? When we take the time to do this, it allows fresh growth and health into the relationship.
  • Planting flower bulbs is making yourself ready to bless your spouse during the hard season. The work it takes to plant the bulbs seems effortless, but there isn’t immediate satisfaction because all the work you’ve done is buried under the dirt. It is unseen. Patience is needed and a willingness to wait. When we face difficulty, it is important to be patient and wait for your spouse to be ready to bless you in return.
  • Fertilizing the plants can be compared to us praying for our spouse on a daily basis. The Bible encourages husbands to love their wives by washing with the water of the Word. May our busyness not allow us to neglect the most important disciplines of a well-tended garden i.e. marriage–prayer and Bible reading.

Storms will always come and go in our marriage. What we do to prepare for them makes all the difference as to whether our house will still be standing when the storm passes. 

How do you prepare for difficult seasons?

Note: Our hearts and prayers go to those who are suffering from the devastation of last week. If you would like to make a donation, visit Samaritan’s Purse.

Posted in Difficulty, Growing Strong Marriages | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Romantic Orlando: Sunrise – Sunset

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Debi Walter

Living in Florida we have an advantage over every other state in the union; we have an east coast and a west coast. This gave us an idea for a unique date day; we have yet to do it because of schedules, but it is on our radar, or should we say MAP?

Before we had a chance to post about it we heard the testimony of a divorced friend who shared the following story with our church as a way to encourage married couples to make the most of romancing your spouse.  We believe you will enjoy her story as much as her idea!

My pastor asked this past Sunday for those who are married or in a relationship to share a Valentines story. I’m not married nor am I in a relationship, yet I do have a Valentines story that is a very fond memory from when I was married.

The story depicts our love of adventure and the serendipitous things that can be found along the way. We lived in Orlando, and the plan for the day was to see the sunrise AND sunset from the east and west coast of Florida. So before dawn, we left home and headed east to Titusville. We arrived just in time to see the sun begin it’s ascent above the ocean. What an amazing sight, as the water reflected the ever growing light and warmth of the sun.

From there, we headed south to “Alligator Alley” which then took us west across the state. Along the way, we’d stop at any place that caught or eye (shops or restaurants that weren’t nationally known) just to keep the adventure exciting.

At dusk, we were at the beach in St. Pete and watched the reverse effect from earlier in the day. As the sun set, the colors went from warm to cool until it was the moon that illuminated the sky. We drove home having experienced both of the daily sights that can be taken for granted. To be fully present, observing the miracle that God orders every single day is a reminder that He does the same for each of our lives.

You may be asking, “Why are you sharing this story since you are divorced”? I share it to encourage those who are in a relationship to be intentional about spending time with their loved one, to both deepen their love for the other AND their Heavenly Father. It’s the 3-cord aspect that EVERY relationship must have to withstand the trials of life. I’m not bitter, just sad that my husband chose to forfeit what he had. My Heavenly Father has cared for me in ways a human husband can’t. So in a way, everyday is Valentines for me. (Psalm 17:8 and 15)

I trust this will encourage others whether they are married, in a relationship, un-married, widowed or divorced.

We would like to thank Jodie for her willingness to share this idea with us, but even more so for her desire to encourage married couples to be “intentional,” as she put it.

Jodie and her husband took a path across the southern part of the state. The route we are planning to take is a more north/central route. We’ve broken it down in bullet form for your convenience. We can’t wait to do this–hopefully soon!

  • Drive to New Smyrna Beach before dawn in order to see the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean. Serve breakfast and hot coffee on the beach while enjoying a quiet time together to read God’s Word and pray.
  • Drive west on SR 44 through Deland. This is a small college town, home of Stetson University.
  • Drive west on SR 44 to Eustis. Another quaint town situated on the shore of Lake Eustis.
  • From there take 44 west through the Harris Chain of lakes to another small town known as Wildwood.
  • Take 44 west to Inverness.
  • Continue west on 44 to Homosassa Springs where there is a State Park worth visiting.
  • From there take 98 south towards Weeki Wachee State Park. This is a true Florida theme park having been in business long before the Mouse opened his house. 🙂
  • Take 19 south to Clearwater Beach.

This trip covers 187 miles and takes approximately 4 hours and 10 minutes to complete. So you can see a leisurely drive across the state, stopping wherever you want along the way, is quite feasible. Enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the parks and then end up by days end for dinner in Clearwater Beach while the sun sinks into the Gulf of Mexico. Following dinner you could choose to drive home, or stay the night at one of the many hotels in the area.

Posted in Date Night Ideas, Daytime Dates, Fun Dates, Orlando Date Ideas, Outdoor Dates, Romantic Orlando, Sunrise Dates, Sunset Dates, Testimonies, Unique Dates | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Make It Your Own “Super Tuesday”

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Debi Walter

Map Graphic by 270 To Win

Today is known as Super Tuesday because it is the Tuesday when 10 states participate in voting for their party’s nominee for President. This year it’s the Republican party selecting their nominee.

Why not celebrate this day in a special way? Here are a few ideas:

  • Pick one of the Super Tuesday states and prepare a dinner based on their food. The states to choose from are: Ohio, Georgia, Tennessee, Alaska, Massachusetts, Idaho, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Vermont and Virginia. We’ve added a link to each state which will take you to a site with recipes from that state. Enjoy!
  • It is customary to introduce the candidates recalling their best character qualities and attributes. Take some time to write out your own introduction speech as if your spouse was running for President. What would you commend about them to a crowd? Read it out loud to your family after dinner.
  • Romantic Ballot Booth – This one takes place after the kids are in bed. Make a ballot for your spouse to fill out. You can make the things they’re voting for as sexy as you want. i.e. LIGHTING: 1. Candles 2. Lamps 3. Flashlight 4. Darkness; MUSIC: 1. Jazz 2. Rock 3. Country 4. Sound Machine 5. Quiet; (you get the idea). Some other categories could include: POSITIONS, LOCATIONS, APPAREL, BEVERAGES, ETC. The best part of this kind of voting? Whatever your spouse votes for WINS!! Then, they get to celebrate by enjoying everything they “voted into office!” For fun you could put a sign on your bedroom door that says: The Oval Office. Print the following badge to give to your spouse the next morning. It will be sure to make them smile all day Wednesday, as well!

These ideas are provided to help you make Super Tuesday something you’ll actually look forward to each election year. It sure beats watching the election results – don’t you think? 😉

Posted in Christian Marriage, Free Dates, romancing your spouse, Romantic Ideas, Unique Dates | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Dinner Date Dilemma

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Debi Walter

Have you ever had one of those nights where neither of you have a preference for where  to eat out, so no one can decide? We certainly have, and we’ve learned it’s best to have a plan.

We’ve recently discovered Urbanspoon.com where patrons rate the restaurants where they eat giving them a thumbs up or thumbs down. You can share pictures of your food, what you liked and didn’t like about your experience, etc. There is even a smart phone app. available to help you when you’re traveling.

We used this on our recent vacation and what a difference it made in the quality of food we enjoyed. We simply clicked the “nearby” button bringing all the restaurants nearby on the screen. We then scrolled the list looking for those restaurants with a 90% or higher rating. It was so helpful we added our own reviews and pictures of the restaurants where we dined.

Taken at El Cerro Restaurant in Myrtle Beach, SC. By far the best mexican food we've ever had!

If you would like to join simply click the link above. It will take you to their main page where you can sign up. Then, click HERE to follow us as we eat out and rate our experience. What a helpful tool to allow us to have a better night out together without the typical Dinner Date Dilemma we’re all too familiar with.

The best news? This app works anywhere there have been users to rate the restaurants. If no one has begun in your area, why not be the first? Your friends will thank you for the help, and it will provide a record of where you’ve dined. Kind of a date night diary. 🙂

Bon appétit!

♥ Things To Do In Orlando ♥

CENTRAL

NORTH

EAST

SOUTH

WEST

Posted in Date Night Ideas, Dinner Dates, Mark Your Calendars (time sensitive), Orlando Date Ideas | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Legacy of Marriage

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Debi Walter

We do well to take thought of how our marriage and our commitment to it influences the lives and choices our children and their children will make.

Today was her day for all of her 90 years. My grandmother was born on March 2, 1889, in the small town of Neodesha, Kansas. I know much about her because I’ve been working on a book based on her life for the past 10 years. It has been quite the journey for me as a writer, but even more so as her youngest granddaughter who carried much regret with not getting to know her better while she was alive.

But her faith and commitment has spoken volumes to me after her death. As will ours to our children, if we let it.

I come from quite a legacy of marriage.

My grandparents were married for 57 years before my grandfather passed away in 1963. My parents were also married for 57 years before my Dad passed away in 2004. My sister and her husband will celebrate their 39th anniversary this summer, and my brother and his wife were married 5 weeks after Tom and me. They will celebrate their 33rd on April 1st.

I’ll never forget the realization of this legacy as we all sat together at my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary party on July 5, 1997. What a legacy. Have our marriages been perfect – certainly not. But we all have one thing in common – commitment, and this by God’s grace at work in our lives to help us stay the course.

I believe my marriage is bearing the fruit of my grandmother’s prayers. She prayed I would marry someone like Tom, who would love me and care for me. She lived to meet him and died only 4 months after our wedding day. There isn’t a year that goes by when on March 2nd I don’t remember her and offer a prayer of thanks to God for her example in my life and the legacy of marriage I’ve been given.

My grandparent's 50th Anniversary circa 1956

Now it’s my turn to pass it on to my children and their children. I’d say we’re off to a good start – our daughter will celebrate her 7th anniversary this May and our son will celebrate his 6th anniversary this June. Isn’t God good?

What legacy are you leaving for those who are coming along behind you?

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

Are You Pinterested?

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Debi Walter

People tend to think I know a lot about social media, and I suppose I do to a certain extent. But I’m simply ignorant enough to try things to see if they’ll work. Sadly, I’ve signed up for more services that don’t work than I have for things that do.

But there is one that is absolutely addicting, and it is helpful as well. You may or may not have heard of it. It’s called Pinterest, and it’s the place where you can ear mark all the things you find on the internet that you love. It can be anything and everything. It’s a brilliant idea and one where ideas are shared on a grand scale–one picture at a time.

Pinterest is fairly new to the social media scene. It started in December of 2009. Went public by invitation only in March of 2010, and was named as a Top 50 website of 2011 by Time magazine, which is quite impressive to be so young.

So what exactly is Pinterest?

Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.

Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests. To get started, request an invite.

(source: http://pinterest.com/about/)

Tom and I have a Pinterest account where we offer 23 virtual bulletin boards to share ideas, our likes and what inspires us. Here is a list of the boards we currently have:

  • Date Night Ideas
  • Decorating For The Seasons
  • Places We Want To Go
  • Places We’ve Been
  • Date Night Food
  • Romantic Dining
  • Need A Good Laugh
  • Romantic Spots In Orlando
  • Products I Love
  • Through My Eyes (pictures I take myself)
  • Romantic Photographs
  • Amazing Mantels
  • For The Home
  • Gifts For Him
  • Gifts For Her
  • Slices of Married Life
  • Romantic Bedrooms
  • Romantic Ideas
  • Romantic Videos
  • Favorite Quotes
  • Nana’s Favorites (I couldn’t help myself here – there are too many great ideas!)
  • Romantic Holidays
  • Wedding and Party Ideas

If you already have a Pinterest account, you can follow our boards by clicking HERE.

If you don’t have an account, you can request one by clicking the link offered above.

We love the premise of this site–offering a platform to share ideas and inspiration, something every marriage needs.

So, are you pinterested?

Posted in Christian Marriage, resources, The Romantic Vineyard | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Wives Only: Romantic Leap Day Tradition

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Debi Walter

Photo Credit: Flint Handmade blog

Leap Day is a day attributed to the calendar every four years in order to make up for lost time, literally. This solved a problem many civilizations had for as long as time has been recorded. It was in the 1500’s when the Gregorian Calendar was adopted, making the shift in time much less of a problem.

So how did the tradition begin of women proposing to men on the 29th of February? After some intense research–I clicked on Google–I found out the following:

According to an old Irish legend, or possibly history, St Bridget struck a deal with St Patrick to allow women to propose to men – and not just the other way around – every 4 years. This is believed to have been introduced to balance the traditional roles of men and women in a similar way to how Leap Day balances the calendar.

Of course, most women would never do this, at least not in the Christian community. But, who’s to say we can’t do it AFTER we’re married? That’s right. Here’s my proposal–a different kind of proposal, but a proposal nonetheless–let’s write out and plan a proposal to our husband tonight after the kids go to bed. Make it as romantic as if you weren’t sure if he would say yes. Be creative. Make it something he would enjoy. Do all you can to make sure he says, YES! And the best part? If he does then there’s no wedding to plan, you get to jump straight to the wedding night! Woo Hoo!

Need some ideas?

  • Make him a ring out of a dollar bill? And use for your proposal.
  • Make Shepherd’s Pie for dinner with ‘Marry Me’ written in the potatoes.
  • Bake his favorite cake.
  • Have a candle path leading him to where you’re waiting for him when he comes home.
  • Plan a scavenger hunt with clues all over the house.
  • Propose to him in bed as he thinks you’re going to sleep.

The most important part of this tradition is to say what is on  your heart about your husband. Give it some time and thought. After all it’s not every year you get to propose to your man. Make it something he’ll be sure to leap for joy over!

(Special thanks to Bonnie of My Ship Bound For Tarshish Blog for reminding me that this day was fast approaching. I would have missed it otherwise!)

Posted in Christian Marriage, Creative Dates, Date Night Ideas, Holidays, Romance in Marriage, romancing your husband, Wives | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

A Tale of Two Vacations

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Debi Walter

Vacation #1

I got sick a couple of days before our trip, and it only got worse as we drove to our destination. It was difficult to breathe, especially at night when I was supposed to be sleeping. We had planned to go sledding with our grandchildren, but I felt so bad I ended up only being able to watch and take pictures.

When our children left after a couple of days, all I could do was sit on the couch. I had no energy to do anything, but read.

The weather warmed up and all the snow melted into a muddy mess.  We made the best of it by having a picnic on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but we had to sit in the back of our car to keep from getting muddy and wet.

This is a place we’ve visited for over 25 years, and it was sad to see how it is changing. They are widening the road making it necessary to cut down beautiful trees in order to blast through the granite, paving the way for progress.

Towards the end of the week we went with some lifelong friends to see the place where Andy Griffith grew up – Mt. Airy, NC. But the weather ruined our plans. We wanted to walk the streets and see the sights, but the wind was so strong we could hardly breathe the cold air.  We ate lunch at a diner and left shortly after.

The trip ended with a stop in Myrtle Beach, SC. Our room was supposed to be Ocean Front, but was on the third floor facing another hotel instead. It was disappointing to say the least. We left a day early and although my cold was much better, my back hurt so bad we had to stop several times just to stretch and walk a bit.

Our vacation didn’t turn out like we had planned. I was ready to be home.

Vacation #2

I got sick a couple of days before our vacation, but Tom allowed me to stay in bed in order to rest as much as possible. He even did most of the packing for me. He’s like that, always looking for ways to help me when I need it most.

Once we arrived at our cabin, it was difficult to breathe, but I didn’t care. Our grandchildren had come to see snow for the first time, and I couldn’t wait to watch their delight. We prayed for at least 6″ of snow overnight – the next morning we awoke to a winter wonderland. It was beautiful. The day began with sledding down the hill right outside our cabin, which was perfect.

Although I didn’t feel very good, I was able to capture all the fun on my camera. It was a day we’ll never forget.

After they left I was finally able to sit and relax by the fire and read to my heart’s content.

When we were finally ready to go out and do things, the weather warmed up, so I didn’t feel so bad. It helped to see the sun shining, and it enabled us to enjoy the Blue Ridge Parkway for a picnic with a beautiful view. This is something we’ve never been able to do in the winter months we’ve been there. Usually the roads are closed due to snow and ice.

The area is growing and prospering. It was good to see businesses we’ve enjoyed still there. Although the road widening project seems horrible right now, we imagine it will be beautiful once it’s all finished.

We were able to go with some lifelong friends to Mt. Airy, NC, for an afternoon of sightseeing. I’m a huge fan of the Andy Griffith show–I always have been. I had no idea there was a place where you could see the inspiration behind it all. Mt. Airy is where Andy Griffith was born, so the town is full of shops and memorabilia. The weather was really cold and windy, but we managed to find the perfect place for lunch–Leon’s Burger Express, which was full of 1950’s charm. Not to mention, the food was wonderful! Although we couldn’t walk around the town because of the weather, we found exactly what we had hoped for–replicas of all the sets from the show. We were able to park in one place and see it all. I felt like a little girl experiencing the real life town of Mayberry. It was such a fun day.

"Goober says 'Hey'!

Our final stop was in Myrtle Beach, SC. We were supposed to have an ocean front room, but instead were given an ocean view room on the third floor. Tom tried to get our room changed, but they said there were no other rooms available. When we settled in, we noticed the room was not clean in pretty disgusting ways. Tom called the front desk, and they not only apologized, but quickly moved us to the 15th floor with a beautiful view of the ocean.

We ended up leaving a day early because we were both ready. Our time away was so relaxing and enjoyable, we were ready to go home. God was so kind to give us such a wonderful trip.

__________________________________________________

We suppose you figured out the two vacations above were all one vacation. Actually this was our anniversary trip last week! All the things mentioned happened and by God’s grace our take on the week fell more in line with the 2nd vacation than the 1st. Life is full of plans going wrong, sicknesses and unexpected changes, but we don’t have to let them ruin our time. It’s all in our perspective on the twists and turns.

How do you handle these twists and turns? Do you look past the trouble and see the blessing? Or do you get stuck in what we like to call the “Eeyore Syndrome?” We’re not talking about being a Pollyanna where you ignore the trouble. Or being an Eeyore where you ignore all the good. We’re talking about embracing life with joy the way the Lord allows it to happen. This vacation we spent more time talking than we ever have. And the conversations were much needed in our busy season of life. God made sure we had exactly what we needed to make our time away the best it could be for us. And yes, this included not having everything go according to plan.

What’s your “tale of two vacations” story? We all have them, we just may not realize we have a choice to choose one over the other.

Posted in Christian Marriage, Difficulty, The Gospel & Marriage | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

How Are You at Reckoning

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Debi Walter

Tom sitting in Sheriff Andy Taylor's chair

Our time away is nearly over. It has been good to pull away, to talk, to be silent, to shop, to laugh, to sleep, to…well, you get the idea. It has been good {period}. 🙂

And look whose his prisoner! 🙂

We were driving today from Charlotte to Myrtle Beach and had one of those conversations you know you’ll remember for a long time.

I asked Tom about joy, “How would you say your joy is right now?”

His response? “That’s a good question.”

And it lead to a great conversation. We concluded that joy is not dependent on our feelings. It is a fruit of the Spirit, which is something we cannot cultivate on our own. It is produced as we seek God with all our heart, mind and strength. This is when the fruits of His Spirit are born in us.

The Bible says clearly in James, “Count it ALL joy brothers when you encounter trials of various kinds.”

How many of us literally count our trouble as a joy to us? Not many, if you’re like us. But this is a command, not a suggestion. In meditating about this together Tom came up with an excellent analogy.

“There is a reckoning which takes place as we face difficulty. If we look at them as something we don’t deserve, then we will reckon ourselves in debt to the joy we think we should have. If we see our difficulty as something God has allowed ultimately for our good, then we will see them as a credit to us and find the hidden joy in the process.

Wow. See why I love my husband? He has a way of taking these basic truths and breaking them down to everyday applications. I think I have been feeling the lack of joy in my life because I have felt I deserve better. This is bad theology and leaves me with no hope for the future. If I repent of my sinful attitude, God will help me count all my circumstances as joy because I trust the Father has something in store for me that is good.

When was the last time you had a long talk about joy with your spouse? Do you know how they’re doing at reckoning? Are they in the debit column or the credit column? You know, it’s all in the attitude, and talking about it helps you both see more clearly.

♥ Things To Do In Orlando ♥

CENTRAL

EAST

  • Baldwin Park – Orlando Chili Cook Off on Saturday, March 3rd from 11a. – 9p. to benefit Special Olympics Florida. Admission charge.

WEST

Posted in Date Night Ideas, Dating Your Spouse, Difficulty, Mark Your Calendars (time sensitive), Orlando Date Ideas | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments