Time Away

7 years ago, my husband began his seminary studies.  We had just moved to Colorado, and he was enrolled in a hybrid course through George Fox out of Portland.  We lived in a small townhouse where all four of our girls shared a room.

During this time, the Lord provided for us in ways beyond what we could've ever imagined.  One year into his studies, Vaughn landed a part-time job with a bank consulting business.  This job required Vaughn to travel one week out of every six.  It paid well, and worked with Vaughn's school schedule.

Who knew that it would also be an investment in our marriage 6 years later? 

This last week, we were finally able to cash in on the flyer miles and hotel points that Vaughn had acquired during the several years he worked for this company.  A trip that has been almost 3 years in the making...

And it couldn't have come at a better time!  Have I mentioned before (like a hundred times) that this last year has been a rough one?  A life changing one, one that we would not trade, but a rough one nonetheless.

So a trip to the ocean with my man was just what this heart needed.

We began breathing deeply and relaxing our shoulders the minute we got in the car to drive to the airport.  We talked, we held hands, we bought coffee, we smiled.

One morning we rented a tandem bike.  Tell me this doesn't scream tourist!  My husband is such a good sport.  When I told him this was the one thing I wanted to do aside from parking myself on the sand, he said he was game.  I'm fairly certain we were the ONLY couple doing this.  During the the three days we were there, I never saw another tandem bike. Ha!

We road along the Bay, we tackled this spiraling path (both up and down), we took turns being the one in the front (my time lasted all of 5 minutes...let's just say a close encounter with a tree cut my time short). 

And we laughed...oh my gosh how we laughed.  I'm certain we looked ridiculous at times (for at least 5 minutes of that time, for sure).  But we didn't care.  We took video of us riding along the marina, and because it was such a great shot I had Vaughn turn around and ride that strip three times in a row so I could get a good picture.  This man should get some kind of award for humoring me.

Another morning we got up and went for a walk/jog along this path.  Just beautiful!  As we talked about the girls, and ministry, and life, we soaked in the sun and each other.

And in the afternoons, we spent a little time in heaven.

I don't know what it is about the ocean...it does something to me.  The sound, the feel, the smell.  To be able to look out forever and see nothing but water.  To feel the soft sand on my feet, and the sun on my face.  To hear the waves, and smell the salt. 

I cried when we walked away from it on our last day.  No lie, real tears.

Every once in awhile during our time there I found myself thinking about the girls.  They inherited a love for the water from their momma.  I knew how much they would've loved to have been there with us.

I told this to Vaughn.

I fully expected him to agree with me.  After all, he had communicated that he was missing them a bit. (maybe even more than me)  Instead, though, he told me that he thought it was important for our girls to keep experiencing us doing things like this.  Showing them the value of investing in a marriage relationship.  Continuing to teach them through example what it looks like to make time for each other, to find ways to grow in our friendship (even after almost 19 years), and to never stop carving out space to play.

He's right.  And I love him for this.

To My Girls -- When I'm away from you, you are still with me.  I hear your squeals of excitement in opening the door to a hotel room.  I see your little bodies testing out the water and getting braver as you venture into the waves, while you older ones can't get your tanning oil on fast enough!:)  I know how much you would love the sand and get a kick out of the palm trees.  Know that my heart longs to experience a place like this with you someday!
     However, I also want you to know how important it is for Daddy and I to have this time together.  In order to love someone well, you must make time for that person.  You must make that person a priority.  Life can and will be hard.  Having someone to do life with is a gift.  My prayer is that the Father will bless each of you with a husband who loves you deeply and runs hard after Jesus.  When the time comes, know that you will never regret investing in this relationship.  Remember that communication is worth the vulnerability it sometimes requires.  Never forget that laughter draws you together.  And always cherish seeking the Father together.