Jen Russum

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Lovely Little Things {Anniversary Edition}

At one point on our honeymoon, when Micah and I were enjoying each other’s company under the lovely Hawaiian sunshine, we made a little promise to each other. We had already made all the big important promises about a week ago. You know… the whole “in sickness and health and until death do us part” promises. But while we were soaking up those last few days of our honeymoon, we decided to tack on one more promise for good measure.

And that promise was this:
That we will make a valiant effort to get away for our anniversary each year and celebrate another year of marriage with just the two of us. We made this promise knowing that it might get complicated some years… that kids, health concerns or financial restraints might limit us… so we added the clause that it didn’t have to be a big, fancy trip. It might just mean borrowing a friend’s cabin or beach house for a weekend or sneaking out of the house and staying at a hotel in town for a night… anything that carved out time for us away from home. Because marriage is hard work. At least a good marriage is. So every year Micah and I have made a commitment to do three things to celebrate another year of God’s goodness in our lives and to prepare our hearts for the year ahead.

Rule #1: Get away. Anywhere. As long as it’s away from home and the stress of cleaning, cooking and keeping the AC up during the day to lower our electric bill…

Rule #2: Reflect on the past year. Talk about the challenges and reminisce on the best moments, thanking God for His grace.

Rule #3: Set goals for the upcoming year. One of ours for this year is to find older Godly mentors in Phoenix.

After you follow the three rules, it’s all celebration and relaxation from there on out. So this weekend we checked into one of the Scottsdale resorts, taking advantage of their affordable summer rates. We talked about the serious stuff on Friday night and Saturday morning and then it was just fun, fun, fun the rest of the weekend. The highlights include:

— riding our beach cruisers to a very late brunch on Saturday morning

–laying out by the pool for a couple hours despite the weather rebelling on us with a late afternoon storm {I will say though that it was much easier to read my magazines under cloudy skies as opposed to the usual 110-get-in-the-pool-every-90-seconds-before-you-die-of-heat-stroke weather that we usually have here.}

–going out to dinner at a Brazilian steakhouse and eating so much meat I thought I might explode {sorry to my vegan readers!}, although we still somehow managed to annihilate the complimentary dessert they brought to us…

–watching HGTV to my heart’s content

–sleeping nine hours both nights thanks to those precious blackout curtains

–having someone made else make my bed and clean my room {hallelujah!}

1) The ring Micah got me from Amy Cornwell  2) Our day  3) I made Zebra brownies for our anniversary dessert, but they became Micah’s after-work snack instead.  4) Every year we open up a card from the corresponding table number at our wedding. Table #2 was where most of my bridesmaids sat and this card was hilarious!!!

1/2) Checking in!  3) They gave us warm chocolate chip cookies on arrival. 4) There is nothing I love more than a king size bed in a hotel room.  5/6) We dropped off our luggage and headed out for dessert thanks to a gift card from a dear friend. Yes, we had three desserts. What of it???

1) The beautiful wooden ceiling in our room  2) Hanging out on Saturday morning  3) Breakfast  4) Lounging with my Real Simple  5/6) Enjoying the pool until those storm clouds chased us away

1) Ready for steak!  2) Yes, we tried EVERY cut of meat they served. We don’t mess around.  3/4)  Free dessert… it was this strawberry cream stuff that we took a chance on and it was absolutely amazing!!!
*Linking up with The Anderson Crew, Hello Hue, and Life Rearranged*

Comments

  2. Happy Anniversary from a new follower! My hubby and I do the same thing…try to take some time around each anniversary to go somewhere special, just the two of us, and enjoy quiet time together getting back to the heart of it all. Sometimes the military gets in the way of spending anniversaries together in general (such is life)…but that time is easily made up later. Looks like you two had a very memorable anni! LOVE the ring! Super cute! 🙂

  4. Happy Anniversary! I just came across your blog from bits of splendor and I love it! I am now a follower:) Stop by sometime and say hello!

    -Adriane @ fruitfulhomejournal.blogspot.com

  6. Such a sweet couple 🙂 This year on our first anniversary we enjoyed looking back on the year gone by, and set goals for the upcoming year too! Great way to really reflect on your marriage!

    PS- We LOVE DoubleTree, we always feel spoiled when we stay there 🙂

  10. I think it is wonderful that you guys made that commitment to each other to go away every year…and remember, don't let it slip when you have kids! I am already wanting to plan something for our 2 year in February. 🙂 and I LOVE THE RING!!!!! he did so good!

  12. Looks like it was a super relaxing weekend. Yay for those!!! You guys are such an adorable couple! And so sweet. Happy Anniversary to you both and I pray that God continues to bless you beyond measure in the years to come!

  13. Happy Anniversary! I really like the promise and rules you created. My parents made a habit of getting away each anniversary and have done so for as long as I can remember (and were married 34 years this year!)
    Found you via Bits of Splendor and am happily following. 🙂

  15. I totally agree with you- it is so, so lovely to go away and celebrate, reflect and look forward. I look forward to my wedding anniversary every year 🙂

    I love your idea of the cards from each wedding table- just wish I had thought of the idea when we were planning the wedding 🙂

  16. happy anniversary….looks like you had a wonderful time….and my real simple is stil sitting on my counter waiting to be read.

  19. Happy Anniversary! I just started following you. I cannot wait to see more. I loved all your sweet photos. I do not think I could just choose one that was my favorite. I am glad you both had such a great time 🙂

  24. nicely done.

    seriously.

    may you grow in oneness with each other as you continue on in the faith and grow in our Lord.

    over from the little things link up 🙂